Endorsements For September 9 Democratic Primary,Editorial Board

United States Congress

Michael McMahon. In the September 9th Democratic Party primary, The Jewish Press endorse NYC Councilman Michael McMahon in the 13th Congressional District (All of Staten Island, Bay Ridge, Dyker Heights, Bensonhurst and Gravesend). Councilman McMahon seeks the democratic nod to run in November for the seat of outgoing Congressman Vito Fossella, a Republican. McMahon, an attorney, has a distinguished record in the City Council and is endorsed by many colleagues in various levels of government. He is robust in his support for Israel in its confrontation with the Arab world and supports many of the special efforts Israel has taken to defend itself and he has also emphasized the importance of Israel as an ally of the United States. He has spoken out on the grave dangers presented by Iran, the significance of the US mission in Iraq and the overall war on terror. The positions of his opponent in the primary on these issues stand in stark relief. We endorse Michael McMahon on September 9th.

Manhattan Surrogate's Court

The Jewish Press endorses John Reddy for Manhattan Surrogate. Reddy has been counsel to the Public Administrator of Manhattan since 1995 and is one of the country's foremost and most respected specialists in surrogate's court work. A recognized authority in the field who has published many articles in professional journals on the work of the surrogate's court, he also has a long record of protecting the interests of charities when individuals have attempted to exert undue influence over members of our elderly community. Through his efforts, Hatzolah of Washington Heights obtained a new ambulance over the objections of an estate executor, and countless Jewish charities have benefited from his sensitivity and expertise. Mr. Reddy's principal opponent, Nora Anderson, is an able and experienced practitioner in the surrogate's court and brings much to the table. However, Mr. Reddy's towering stature in the estates field and his more than two decades-long sensitivity to Jewish charities make him our choice.

NYS Assembly

Sheldon Silver, 64th AD (D-Lower Manhattan) -- Last week in our lead editorial we urged voters in lower Manhattan to vote for Sheldon Silver on Sept. 9. As we noted, he has admirably served his local constituents and in terms of the needs of the Jewish community he has been an extraordinary resource.

Phil Ramos, 6th AD (D-Suffolk County) -- Assemblyman Phil Ramos was elected to the Assembly in 2002 and has fought hard for state aid to education for local schools and championed the effort to ensure every child in the state has access to health care coverage.
Ellen Young, 22AD (D-Queens) -- Assemblywoman Ellen Young was first elected to the New York State Assembly in 2005. She has a distinguished career in public service and understands the importance of education, healthcare and the need to protect services for seniors.

Rhoda Jacobs, 42nd AD (D-Midwood) -- Rhoda Jacobs has been a member of the Assembly since 1978 and has been at the forefront of issues relating to health care, Medicaid, job development, immigrant issues, consumer education and protection in banking, insurance and public utilities. Her cutting edge legislation has served as a national model for preventive measures in women's and children's health care and she has been a vigorous advocate on issues important to the Jewish community.

Bill Boyland, 55th AD (D-Brooklyn) -- Assemblyman William Frank Boyland Jr. was first elected to the New York State Assembly in a special election in 2003. Since that time, Mr. Boyland has sat on several committees where he has worked hard on issues related to senior citizens, job creation, and economic development, to name just a few. He is a leader with vision who understands the needs of his diverse community.

Alan Maisel, 59th AD (D-Canarsie/Sheepshead Bay) -- Alan Maisel has been involved in civic, community and political activities for over 3 decades, including active membership in various Jewish organizations. As a retired assistant principal and former teacher, Mr. Maisel understands the importance of providing our children with a quality education and has fought hard for his constituents in his first 2 years in the Assembly.

Janele Hyer-Spencer, 60th AD (D-Richmond and Kings Counties) -- Since her election to the NYS Assembly in November 2006, Janele Hyer-Spencer has fought to protect access to quality health care while also protecting against overdevelopment. She has been a strong advocate of lowering our tax burden and improving our quality of life.

Adriano Espaillat, 72nd AD (D-Washington Heights) -- For over a decade, Assemblyman Adriano Espaillat has been a strong leader in the areas of education, public safety, tenants' rights and the environment. In addition to his role in Albany, Assemblyman Espaillat serves as a community leader who has placed an important focus on developing positive community relations throughout Washington Heights.

Ellen Jaffee, 95th AD (D-Rockland County) -- Assemblywoman Ellen Jaffee was elected to the New York State Assembly in 2006 after serving on the Rockland County Legislature for eight years. Ms. Jaffee has demonstrated her understanding of issues that affect working families and has been a strong voice in the fight to improve the quality of life and improve healthcare

NYS Senate

Martin Connor, 25th SD (D-New York and Kings Counties) -- State Senator Martin Connor is a proven leader who continues fighting to improve the quality of life for all New Yorkers. Senator Connor has passed numerous measures to combat discrimination, protect the rights of seniors, improve our healthcare delivery system and contain the costs of pursuing higher education. During his many years in the State Senate he has worked closely with the Jewish community in Williamsburg.

Kendall Stewart, 21st SD (D-Boro Park, Flatbush, Kensington, Midwood) -- Dr. Kendall Stewart is completing his second term as a member of the New York City Council representing the 45th Council District (which includes Boro Park, Flatbush and East Flatbush) where he has served with distinction and built a close working relationship with the Jewish community. On the other hand, we've become disenchanted over the past two years with incumbent senator Kevin Parker's lack of responsiveness to our community. The third candidate is Councilman Simcha Felder, certainly no stranger to our community and certainly a positive force on the City Council. However, after initially announcing a run for the office of NYC Comptroller and later for Brooklyn Borough President, he belatedly shifted to a race for the Senate seat in the 21st SD, well past the time we had committed to Dr. Stewart and any reasonable period for possible reconsideration. In any event, we wholeheartedly support Dr. Stewart.

Read Comments (4)

Odd
Date 02:09, 09-3, 08

Did the Jewish Press investigate Phil Ramos before endorsing him? The man has a long history of anti-Semetic remarks.

Reddy's experience?
Date 11:09, 09-5, 08

Mr Reddy is sorely lacking in trial experience. Kinship Hearings do not qualify as trial experience. These hearings represent the bulk of Mr Reddy's caseload Selection of jury,reprensenting living clients, handling of litigant and arguing before a judge and jury, if necessary arguing before an appellate court are critical elements that are essential to the makeup of a potential jurist. Mr Reddy resume does not include any of the foregoing. Is he really ready?

Endorsements
Date 04:09, 09-8, 08

The endorsements the Jewish Press released last week staunchly supporting the status quo in Albany is very disappointing.

Qualifications of Surrogate Court Candidates
Date 11:09, 09-8, 08

Interesting comments rearding Mr. Raddy's Experience. Completely wrong, but interesting. Lets take a look at the other two candidates. Justice Tingling has a 50% reversal rate, and has been overturned by the Appellate Division more than any other Supreme Court Judge. Very Impressive.

Nora Anderson has clearly violated NY State Election Law by accepting a $225,000 contribution from a trusts and estate lawyer who is bankrolling her campaign. She has also plastered her campaign posters all over on public propert which is also illegal, but apparently Ms. Anderson is above the law.

From the September 4th NY Daily News:
"Anderson has borrowed $225,000 from her longtime employer, trust lawyer Seth Rubenstein, who is the grandson of a surrogate and the father of Manhattan lawyer Joshua Rubenstein, who heads the trust and estate section of a major law firm.

That's almost certainly a violation of Article 14, Section 114 of New York State election law, which specifies that a campaign loan "shall be deemed, to the extent not repaid by the date of the primary, general or special election, as the case may be, a contribution."

The $225,000 is far above the legal contribution limit. So Anderson, if she wins, will likely be in violation of the law."

Anderson has no intention of paying back that "Loan" and will only be subject to a small fine for intentionally violating the election law. Sad, a candidate for Judge violatig the law on her way to the bench. Can you imagine what her behaviot will be like once she''s on the bench?

ohn Reddy is a reformer with a 10 point plan on cleaning up Surrogate''s Court. He worked hard to raise the money to finance his campaign, and every contribution he got was legal and didn''t violate the elections law.

Seth Rubenstein, the lawyer that loaned Nora Anderson the $225,000 will be appearing before her for guardianships if she is elected. You tell me, do you think he will get his money back tenfold with her as judge?

If Seth Rubenstein wanted to control the Manhattan''s Surrogate Court that much, he should have run for the office himself, rather than using Nora Anderson as his shill, and illegally financing her campaign from behind the scenes.

I think the Jewish Press has endorsed the Right candidate, by a long shot.