All politics are local

Next week there are municipality elections throughout the country, including in my town of Modi’in. My wife and I have been following this election very closely. It’s the first time I’ll be voting where the “situation” isn’t an issue. It’s quite refreshing actually weighing candidates on issues such schools, city expansion, economic growth etc.

We already know what party we are voting for (its an independent one) but we still aren’t sure who we are voting for Mayor. We are definitely not voting for Moshe Schecter, the current mayor. The job has gotten way too big for him. The other candidates are nothing to write home about either. They are all mediocre and their platforms are pretty much identical. This election is the first one in Modi’in where the municipalities of the affluent towns of Maccabean and Reut now fall under the same umbrella as Modi’in.

It’s seems that there are a record number of Anglos running for city council seats this year throughout the country. Here in Modi’in, American born Alex Weinreb was initially running for Mayor but is not number 2 on Moshe Spector’s list (Not to be confused to Schecter!). Spector has been head of the Maccabean-Reut council for a number of years and is extremely popular. His party is expected to garner at least three seats on the council. There is a party called Shachar (not to be confused with Beilin’ “movement”), which is a mixed secular-religious party whose main focus is education. There is apparently an American woman on their list.

According to this Ha’aretz article five anglo candidates are pretty much sure things in their local elections.

Anglos here in Israel are always complaining about how they have no representation in the government. Even though these candidates represent a hodgepodge of religious and political views, it’s a real pleasure seeing them step up to the plate.

This Jpost article talks about members of the Masorti (Conservative) movement who are running as well.

Tags: modi'in