By COLlive reporter
The first televised debate was held between the candidates running for the vacant New York Assembly representing the 43rd district, including south Crown Heights, Prospect-Lefferts Gardens and parts of East Flatbush.
The special election will take place on Tuesday, May 5, after Karim Camara left the post.
Moderating the debate was Errol Louis, host of Inside City Hall program on NY1.
Debating were :
Menachem Raitport of the Republican and Conservative parties.
Diana Richardson of the Working Families party.
Geoffrey Davis of the Love Yourself party.
Absent was Shirley Patterson of the Independence party.
Candidates discussed housing, ethics and race relations in the area which includes Chabad chassidic Jews and Afro-Caribbean residents. One memorable moment was when Davis boasted that he has a photo of “the grand Rebbe” in his home.
Following the debate, the Raitport campaign launched a voter registration drive to sign up 600 voters by Friday, April 24. Spots to register are in front of 770, at Crown Kosher Meat – 413 Kingston Avenue and at the campaign HQ at 411 Troy Avenue.
New York State Board of elections allows voters to apply for an absentee ballot if they will be out of the district on Election Day. Voting by absentee ballot is quick and easy, request your Absentee Ballot here.
Polls are showing that this race will be extremely close, so every vote will matter. Make sure if you can’t vote in person on Election Day, you vote absentee. Click here to request your Absentee Ballot.
Yes, I’m a Lubavitcher, but if I’m a voter who has no horse in this race, I’m clearly behind this Diana woman, she seems to be the only one who has her stuff together…
Raitport I wish you luck! You have our side!
The people of Crown Heights have been through the wringer for so long because there is no Jewish representation for us at all. Having someone from our community in a recognized position in government will give us a voice. That’s your ‘horse’. We need representation from someone who has the interests of the Jewish community at heart- and since part of this means less crime, better access to education, it will (if successful) ultimately benefit All communities, Jewish or not.
It’s all very good. But my question: what difference will it make to me personally who wins? What will I personally gain if Raitport wins? As someone else pointed out, I have no horse in this race.
i like your shirt!
its kewl
Good start, rab. Raitport. get some good advisors to keep u uptodate on statistics and issues and you, ll beat all those do-nothings in the government.
The guy was shutting him up! He was pointing out how she had contradicted herself by bashing a development that was developed by her own foundation! Raitport just doesn’t have enough knowledge for the job, his views are correct but I don’t think he has it in him to b able to push them through at all,
The only one who was actually thinking ahead seemed to be raitport (his education ideas etc.) The other two were just attacking detail that half of it in the long term wouldn’t make a diff at all!
He should be running for white house
You mentioned education, but didn’t give any examples of improvement or reform. Also, didn’t hear about your work with the community. Good job overall! But up your game!
Geoffrey Davis “i didn’t see any of you guys there”
great way to “bring healing to our community”.
I think this will help
you did a good job – but you need to be more straightforward with using the words the rebbe shlit”a used so much “goodness and kindness” you should of mentioned it at least 10 times throughout the discussion – like “we want to educate the community as a whole to add in positive thinking – and i would definitely offer a program were any public school that wants to add in positive thinking a have a rabbi go over and talk about this- because education is not only about a job – its about building trust and reliability within the… Read more »
good job!
joe d, good observations
diane is verry profesional, but says too many figures and politicaly correct stuff that make no sence. geoffery , is a joke, and raiport needs to talk more, seem more interested,
but, he spoke and presented well
ppl, vote u CANT COMPLAIN ABOUT COMMUNITY MATTERS IF YOU DONT TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE. GO VOTE FOR WHO U WANT
Yes, I’m a Lubavitcher, but if I’m a voter who has no horse in this race, I’m clearly behind this Diana woman, she seems to be the only one who has her stuff together…
I agree but that still helped him look better. Also he basically needs to lock up the Yiddishe vote and he already has a chance to win.
I agree with comment 1
The fact that they did not attack him can be for two reason either due to the fact they do not know him, or he is not a threat to their vote.
My thoughts. None of them hit it out of the park. Davis comes across very likable but is a total clown and can’t get his story straight. Diana Richardson is most professional but clearly has chosen which audience she’s going after i.e the extreme left and unions and she isn’t even pretending to play any other game. She also comes off very coldly. Raitport did good in the debate but will need to up his speaking game. he also benefited from the other candidates not going after him as they were busy fighting each other.
it’s good when you smile,
so smile more. please… ; )