| The Hasidic communities of South Williamsburg in Brooklyn are once again making their presence known in key primary races. The race between SD-25 challenger Dan Squadron and incumbent Marty Connor could very well be decided by who those communities choose to support and early indications are that they are divided in their loyalties. The factions have been warring since 1999 when the sect split in a succession dispute and that split has also influenced their political participation. Liz has a story about the electoral dimensions of the dispute in this morning's Daily News.
Hasidic battle brews over state Senate primary
A warring Brooklyn Hasidic sect is divided in a key Democratic state Senate primary that involves some of the city's most powerful political figures - and could affect the '09 mayoral race.
The Satmar faction led by Williamsburg-based Rabbi Zalman Teitelbaum rebuffed an eleventh-hour plea by Mayor Bloomberg to support his candidate, political newcomer Daniel Squadron, in the 25th Senatorial District.
Zalman loyalists are backing Squadron's target, incumbent Sen. Martin Connor, who is championed by Brooklyn Democratic Party boss Vito Lopez and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.
The Zalman camp received a visit last week from Deputy Mayor Kevin Sheekey. He pleaded Squadron's case, but left without a deal, said a source close to Zalman's political adviser, Rabbi David Niederman. Mayoral spokesman Stu Loeser declined to comment.
...
Meanwhile, followers of Rabbi Aron Teitelbaum - who is based in Kiryas Joel in Orange County but has a presence in Williamsburg - are supporting Squadron.
In these low turnout NYC primaries, the Hasidim are often able to exert great influence and, in a race as close as the SD-25 race is expected to be, their votes could be the difference. The UJCARE folks claim they turned out 10,000 people last night at a rally for Squadron and the UJO folks are sticking with Connor at the request of Brooklyn Dem Boss Vito Lopez.
Another race where the Hasidim could prove the difference is the primary race between challenger Kevin Powell and incumbent Ed Towns. The northwest part of the district holds a large part of the South Williamsburg Hasidim. Powell has been aggressively, if not rather clumsily courting them and it seems he's made at least some progress. That said, though there is some anger at Towns in the Satmar community, he's a known quantity to to many.
Both of these races could swing on Satmar votes. Which factions will show up and who they support could very well be decisive. |
