WASHINGTON, October 22 (RIA Novosti) – A Jewish group in New York has for the first time published a Russian-language guide to local elections, highlighting the growing political clout of Russian speakers in the city, The Jewish Week news website reported.
“We looked at where the Russians live and identified the top 10 districts where Russians live according to the census,” the article quoted David Pollock, associate executive director of New York’s Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), as saying.
“We welcome the fact that in 2013, more Russian-speakers are candidates than ever before and that political experts pay increased attention to the Russian vote,” another JCRC official, Michael Miller, was quoted as saying.
The guide includes statements from candidates for New York City Council in 10 districts with a significant Russian presence as well as information about other elections taking place November 5, including the race to replace billionaire Mike Bloomberg as New York’s mayor.
It also includes information about the city’s new computerized balloting system and advice on locating polling places, The Jewish Week said in the article published Monday.
The battle to represent New York’s heavily Russian-Jewish 48th district on the City Council has proved particularly contentious, with one Soviet-born Democratic candidate alleging that he was smeared as a former KGB agent.
Last week a local media mogul announced he was jumping into the race in the 48th district, stoking speculation his main goal was to split the vote to help defeat the Russian-born Republican candidate.
