|
Past issues
The Paper in print
RSS feeds
Email Alerts- Citywide races:
- Statewide races:
- Bronx
- Brooklyn
- Borough President
- Council District 33
- Council District 34
- Council District 35
- Council District 36
- Council District 37
- Council District 38
- Council District 39
- Council District 40
- Council District 41
- Council District 42
- Council District 43
- Council District 44
- Council District 45
- Council District 46
- Council District 47
- Council District 48
- Council District 50
- Queens
- Borough President
- Assembly District 38
- Council District 19
- Council District 20
- Council District 21
- Council District 22
- Council District 23
- Council District 24
- Council District 25
- Council District 26
- Council District 27
- Council District 28
- Council District 29
- Council District 30
- Council District 31
- Council District 32
- BoroWire
- Media
- Mayor Bloomberg visits
- Mayoral Primary: Avella
- Mayoral Primary: Thompson
- Comptroller debate
- Public Advocate debate
- 19th Council District debate
- 20th Council District debate
- 23rd Council District debate
- 25th Council District debate
- 29th Council District debate
- 33rd Council District debate
- 35th Council District debate
- 39th Council District debate
- 40th Council District debate
- 41st Council District debate
- News Archive
- Sister sites:
Council race in 44th District tightens: Lazar picks up slew of key endorsements
Print this story
digg
del.icio.usA slew of new endorsements bolstered Joe Lazar’s candidacy to succeed Simcha Felder in the upcoming race for the 44th City Council District seat.
But the emergence of another candidate from Borough Park and Lazar’s reluctance to debate his co-frontrunner David Greenfield continue to turn the special election slated for March 23 into a dogfight.
Among the endorsements Lazar picked up over the weekend include neighboring 39th District City Councilmember Brad Lander and Lander’s former opponent, John Heyer.
In last year’s fiercely contested Democratic Primary in the 39th City Council District, Lander and Heyer battled for the small portion of the district which includes Borough Park.
Though Lander won the Council race, Heyer, a conservative Democrat, did exceptionally well in Borough Park, winning the neighborhood 1,245 to 219, or roughly by a count of 6-1.
Lazar also picked up endorsements from Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, Rep. Edolphus Towns, State Senator Diane Savino, Assemblymembers Dov Hikind, Peter Abbate, Felix Ortiz, Steven Cymbrowitz and Jim Brennan, State Senator Kevin Parker, and Councilmember Matthieu Eugene.
Lazar said he is humbled by both Lander and Heyer coming out for him, which embraces his campaign slogan that “A Community When United Will Thrive.”
Lazar also took a swipe at Greenfield when he was asked if he would agree to a debate with him.
“I believe in debating people who have a record to debate,” said Lazar. “I don’t believe he [Greenfield] has a record to debate.”
Greenfield, who has received endorsements from former Mayor Ed Koch and other local elected officials, responded that it’s unfortunate that Lazar needs to run a negative campaign.
“I’m not sure why he’s afraid of a debate. I would challenge him to debate every week for the next six weeks so voters can hear directly from him what Joe Lazar plans on doing as a city councilman,” said Greenfield.
Ezra Friedlander, president and CEO of the Friedlander Group government and public relations firm based in Borough Park, said Lazar and Greenfield are both hoping the endorsements will translate into votes.
“Caller could be spoiler. In a three-man race, anything can happen,” said Friedlander. “He [Caller] is still relatively unknown. You could make an argument it [Caller’s candidacy] could hurt or help either candidate.”
The 44th District includes Borough Park and parts of Midwood and Bensonhurst. Also running in the open election is Republican Jonathan Judge.
©2010 Community Newspaper Group
Enter your comment below
By submitting this comment, you agree to the following terms:
You agree that you, and not BoroPolitics.com or its affiliates, are fully responsible for the content that you post. You agree not to post any abusive, obscene, vulgar, slanderous, hateful, threatening or sexually-oriented material or any material that may violate applicable law; doing so may lead to the removal of your post and to your being permanently banned from posting to the site. You grant to BrooklynPaper.com the royalty-free, irrevocable, perpetual and fully sublicensable license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, translate, create derivative works from, distribute, perform and display such content in whole or in part world-wide and to incorporate it in other works in any form, media or technology now known or later developed.