Helen Marshall for Queens Borough President

In 2001 we endorsed Ms. Marshall's candidacy of for Queens borough president. She had represented the 21st District in Queens on the New York City Council for 10 years and we were impressed that this African American woman who served as co-chair of the Council's Black and Latino Caucus was so demonstrably sensitive to the needs of her Jewish constituents. During her years as borough president she has continued her commitment to accommodating the needs of all the Queens communities and has led efforts to improve libraries, parks, education, culture, job training, economic development and the status of senior citizens. The Jewish Press urges Queens readers to return her to office.

Cyrus Vance Jr. for Manhattan District Attorney

Mr. Vance is by far the most impressive candidate in the race. He has been a distinguished criminal and civil trial lawyer and comes across as a person of quiet competence and reflection. It is unfortunate that in today's electrified atmosphere, shrillness and zealotry are too often equated with a passion for justice. The Manhattan DA's office is a virtual mini-army with approximately 500 lawyers and many more support staff. It is best led not by a Crusader Rabbit type hell-bent on seeking out wrongdoing and holding incessant press conferences but rather by a public servant dedicated to the responsible, objective and deliberative pursuit of lawbreakers.

Mr. Vance seeks to succeed the legendary Robert Morgenthau who, at age 90, has decided not to seek reelection. All three of the leading candidates in the Democratic primary to succeed Mr. Morgenthau worked for him. He has chosen to endorse Mr. Vance. So do we.

New York City Council

District 33, Brooklyn (parts of Williamsburg, Brooklyn Heights, Cobble Hill, Greenpoint, Carroll Gardens and Park Slope): Isaac Abraham

Mr. Abraham has long been a fixture in our community. Indeed, if elected, he would be the first chassidic member of the New York City Council. He has been an indefatigable advocate in the halls of government for our interests in the areas of housing, health care, aid to education, and small business development.

Yet it would be a mistake to stereotype him as someone with a narrow, single-community perspective. Anyone taking the trouble to review the extensive program he has prepared has to be impressed with the broad vision, insight, creativity and genuine concern for the well-being of all of his fellow human beings that it reflects. We support Mr. Abraham.

District 39, Brooklyn (Parts of Cobble Hill, Carroll Gardens, Park Slope, Kensington, Boro Park): John Heyer

The Jewish Press urges support for John Heyer. A devout Catholic, Mr. Heyer shares our community's views on a broad range of issues, including family values and parochial education. By any measure his joining the City Council would be a positive development in terms of issues dear to our community. There is, however, another important dimension to the race in the 39th district.

We have long been turned off by politicians running for local office who, seeking our community's support, express their undying support for Israel - though of course they know full well that foreign policy issues will never come across their desks. To be sure, having a plethora of public officials favorably disposed toward the Jewish state is not a negative. But the sheer pandering is what raises our hackles.

Yet it is a different order of business when a candidate for local office is on the public record as being virulently anti-Israel and derisive of Orthodox religious practice in his private capacity. To support such a candidate would send the message that public identification with anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian sentiment is not all that significant a matter to us. And that is not a good thing.

Sadly, Brad Lander, the current frontrunner in the District 39 race, is someone who has spoken out quite forcefully against Israel. In addition, he has voiced objection to Orthodox control of Israeli religious life and used derisive terms to describe certain Jewish practices - referring, for example, to bris milah as "religious violence" during his son's circumcision ceremony.

Incredibly, he has nonetheless garnered support from prominent members of our community, including at least one elected official.

John Heyer deserves our community's support in terms of the issues facing the district. It is also important that our community send a message of its own that we will not support anyone who opposes Israel.

District 40, Brooklyn (Kensington, Ditmas Park, parts of Crown Heights, Flatbush, East Flatbush): Dr. Mathieu Eugene

The Jewish Press endorses Dr. Mathieu Eugene for reelection. A medical doctor, he has played an important role in both his public and private capacities on the health needs of the district's residents as well as the problems of alienated and disaffected youth. He continues to show great sensitivity to the particular needs of his Jewish constituents.

District 45, Brooklyn (Parts of Flatbush, East Flatbush and Canarsie): Dr. Kendall Stewart

We endorse Dr. Stewart for reelection. We continue to be taken by his view of government as a means of solving problems and his pro bono efforts as a private citizen. He has also been most receptive to the needs of the Jewish residents of the district. Of particular note is his initiative against anti-Jewish bigotry following a rash of vandalism directed against Jewish institutions in the district in 2003. Although he represents a district consisting of primarily of African-Americans, Haitians, Koreans, Hispanics, with only a smattering of Jews, he has made it clear in meaningful ways that the targeting of Jews, or any other group, is unacceptable.

District 29, Queens (Forest Hills, Rego Park, Kew Gardens): Karen Koslowitz

The Jewish Press endorses Karen Koslowitz to succeed the outgoing Melinda Katz. Ms. Koslowitz preceded Ms. Katz representing the district in the Council and now seeks to return. During her earlier stint on the Council Ms. Koslowitz demonstrated a keen sensitivity to the needs of the Jewish community, which we believe she will continue to do if elected.

Manhattan, District 1 (Lower East Side): Alan J. Gerson

The Jewish Press endorses Alan J. Gerson for renomination. He has been a vocal champion of the rebuilding of Lower Manhattan in the aftermath of 9/11 and has always been responsive to the needs of the Jewish community there. He served as president of Congregation Emunath Israel, an Orthodox synagogue in Manhattan and was responsible for securing accommodations to the religious needs of the Observant elderly and infirm in several government programs. A talented attorney, Gerson has brought a keen analytical mind to a whole host of issues of concrn to the district.

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Jewish Press Endorsements (Continued from Last Week) , Editorial Board

Looking forward to your views of the Republican Primary, 39th District.
Date 11:09, 09-13, 09

This year, we have what may be the 1st Republican Primary in our savvy 39th District -- forced by an independent man and a devoted, core group of supporters that's taken to the doorsteps of our Brooklyn District. It's growing, every day -- for its earnest approaches to the process, and focused in a way that was called "courageous" by one of NYC's leading voices of the Conservative Party in the Hon. James P. Molinaro, the Borough President of Staten Island. You may not be able to 'read all about it' just yet in any newspaper -- but just ask the Republicans the district that have been surprised to see the Candidate at their doors, learning their concerns block by block. Best, Joe Nardiello

PS -- Congratulations to John Heyer for the endorsement of the Jewish Press, for the Democratic half of our District's primary.