Special election to be held for NYC council seat representing Orthodox area of Brooklyn
Vote in Borough Park will decide seat vacated by Kalman Yeger, a prominent advocate for Jewish causes, who is moving to the state government
Luke Tress is The Times of Israel's New York correspondent.
NEW YORK — New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday announced a special election for a Brooklyn city council seat after Kalman Yeger — one of the borough’s most prominent Orthodox Jewish politicians — vacated the city government for the New York State Assembly.
The special election for the city’s 44th council district will be held on March 25, the mayor’s proclamation of election said. The elected council member will serve until the end of the year.
The district in southwest Brooklyn covers Borough Park, home to a large ultra-Orthodox Jewish community, and some neighboring areas.
Last year, Yeger was elected to represent New York’s 41st District in south Brooklyn. He replaced assemblywoman Helene Weinstein, who stepped down from office after more than 40 years and endorsed Yeger. Yeger’s resignation took effect with the start of the new year.
Yeger, a conservative Democrat, will become one of only a handful of Orthodox Jews in the state government.
Since being elected to the city government in 2017, he has been a vocal advocate for Jewish causes, such as combating antisemitism in the city’s public university and yeshiva education systems.
New York State Senator Simcha Felder told the Orthodox VINnews outlet last month that he would run for the seat vacated by Yeger. Heshy Tischler, a rabble-rousing Orthodox community activist, has also announced his candidacy.
