With the resignation of Assemblyman Daniel Rosenthal earlier this month, the 27th District, which covers Kew Gardens Hills, College Point, Whitestone, and a part of Forest Hills, will have its special election on Tuesday, September 12, to fill the vacancy. By law, the candidates of the major parties are selected by district leaders, and they run to fill the remaining portion of Rosenthal’s term. They can then run again next year for a full term.

Rosenthal, 32, left his safe seat for a more stable position closer to home, as vice president for Government Relations for the UJA-Federation of New York. In this role, he serves as a liaison between his former colleagues in elected office, and the largest Jewish nonprofit in the New York metropolitan region.

In my conversation with one of the four Democratic district leaders representing Kew Gardens Hills, the desired successor to Rosenthal would continue with his policies in combating the boycott of Israel, allocating resources to community nonprofits, and security for local organizations. The next Assembly Member would be an individual with deep roots in the community, knowledgeable of its needs and priorities.

At this time, there have not been official statements issued by the prospective Democratic and Republican candidates; each party is set to announce their candidate by Monday, July 31. Politico and Hamodia reported that Kew Gardens Hills resident Sam Berger, 25, is the likely pick of local Democratic leaders. A recent graduate of St. John’s University School of Law, he is the son of David and Paula Berger, both of whom are active in supporting local schools and community organizations.

Electing an Orthodox Jewish Democrat can be an advantage, as it puts a member of this community within the majority party, giving him a strong voice in Albany, a larger share of the budget devoted to resources in the district, and speaking up internally against the party’s progressive wing.

At the same time, the state’s Republican Party sees an opportunity in the 27th District, which is historically Democratic but has been trending towards Republicans in recent elections. Last year, Republican gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin won the district over incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul by 56 to 44 percent. With many voters making their choice on party affiliations, first-time challenger Angelo King scored 42 percent against Rosenthal.

Prior to last year, Rosenthal ran unopposed, as had been the case since his own accession to the seat in 2017, following the death of Michael Simanowitz. Within Kew Gardens Hills, Jewish voters were familiar with the different candidates running, reelecting Rosenthal in previous elections, while supporting Republicans for higher offices such as president and governor.

So far, among Republicans, Dovid Hirsch, 34, a political consultant for prominent Jewish organizations, has declared his candidacy, focusing on crime and social issues. Dovid, a Queens College alumnus, is the son of Chava Hirsch, Esq., and Shmuel Hirsch, census liaison for Queens and Brooklyn to the Jewish community over the last two cycles, and a former k’hilah director for the QJCC.

Originally from Hillcrest, the Hirsches have been a longtime Kew Gardens Hills fixture. Like Berger, this would be Hirsch’s first run for public office; however, he has interned at DC-area think tanks, consulted on various high-profile races, is a member of the Queens GOP County Committee, and was a recent campaign chief of staff. Hirsch received s’michah while studying at Yeshivas Ohr HaChaim, where he learns daily and often volunteers for TorahAnytime.

From my experience in reporting politics, the upcoming special election is not entirely the same as last year’s story in the Five Towns. In that special election for District 20, Republican Ari Brown defeated Democrat David Lobl. The former came into the race with political experience as Deputy Mayor of Cedarhurst and as its village trustee prior to that. Lobl ran as a longtime political staffer who could deliver more for the district as a member of the majority party.

In contrast to urban Orthodox communities, voters in the Five Towns were less likely to split their tickets between the party of Donald Trump and the party that controls the state government. Within the city, Orthodox community leaders are more pragmatic, seeking out allies in the Democratic Party who can address our concerns about anti-Semitism, support for Israel, noninterference in yeshivah curriculums, and resources for nonprofits that serve the needy.

Within the 27th Assembly District, Kew Gardens Hills is its anchor, with its sizable and mostly unified community of voters. The September 12 election will pose a challenge, as it has only one office on the ballot and is scheduled two days before Rosh HaShanah is observed. Even with early and absentee voting, political participation is not always about convenience, but it is a necessity that should not be neglected.

In the coming weeks, the candidates and their supporters will be making their cases on these pages, on your doorsteps, on the streets, and by mail. It is incumbent on us to hear their platforms and make the choice that best serves our community.

 By Sergey Kadinsky