Brooklyn, NY – In a pre-election interview with VIN News political correspondent Yosef Rapaport, City Council candidate Yoni Hikind discussed the importance of trust, his emphasis on running a positive campaign and his goal of becoming an effective voice for residents of the city’s 44th District.
Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
Criticized by some for his lack of experience, Hikind noted that the single most important qualification for any elected official is trust, not the years they have spent in the political arena.
And while this may be his first foray into public office, Hikind cited a childhood that included frequent visitors such as former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Mayor Bill de Blasio, former Governor George Pataki, former Mayor Rudy Giuliani and former Senator Al D’Amato as the impetus for the significant amounts of time he has invested contemplating both the plusses and the minuses of being involved in the world of politics.
Asked if he intended to follow in his father’s footsteps if his bid for office is successful, Hikind assured Rabbi Rapaport that while he shares similar values with his father, he is very much his own person and that he is looking forward to sharing his own strengths with the community.
As a City Councilman, Hikind said he would make it his business to make sure that the next speaker would be made aware of the unique educational, funding and programming needs of the 44th District, a particularly important move in today’s progressive climate.
“There needs to be a speaker that understands that and that’s number one,” said Hikind.
Hikind, who has spent much of his campaign hitting the streets and asking people to share their concerns with him, emphasized the need for increased communication as a means of identifying solutions to complicated problems faced by area residents.
He said that his campaign has already been hard at work focusing on quality of life issues in the district, seeking out creative answers already in place elsewhere as possible solutions.
Addressing what has evolved into an extremely heated campaign, Hikind said that while he has no problem calling out a fellow candidate on mistruths, he was saddened to hear that there is any perception of negativity emanating from his camp. He noted that he prides himself on his positivity, a trait acquired through much soul searching and hard work after seeing his father attacked by those with malicious intentions.
“When I was younger I had some in my heart … I don’t like to use the ‘h’ word, the ‘hate’ word … but I can’t deny that were parts of my heart that had feelings like that and I davened that I shouldn’t have that,” said Hikind. “I only davened that those people should not be in a position to hurt other people anymore. So I worked really hard on not having any of that.”
Asked by Rabbi Rapaport if he can expect the Hikind campaign to “call off the dogs,” for the remainder of the race, Hikind said that if there is any negativity, it was likely the work of passionate supporters buoyed by the excitement of a campaign that is “doing well”.
“There is a huge difference between ‘paid for by a campaign’ and people in What’s App that support you coming up with a funny cartoon,” said Hikind. “That is very different and I don’t support any of it, but I have nothing to do with that.”
watch below the entire 30 Min. interview with Yosef Rapaport.
Below video: Voters In Borough Park Sound Off On 2017 Council Race.
I don’t know much about Kalmen Yeger, but the fact that he accepted the endorsement of the monopolistic Democratic machine tells me all I need to know about his politics, and not in a good way. I don’t know much about Yoni Hikind either, but since he is not a candidate of the DeBozo party, he will get my vote!
This interview says enough that we should all go out and vote for him
I’m not sure I like the way he responds to the question about secular education, doesn’t seem he really takes a stand, rather skirts the issue by giving advice that their should be communication.. Yoni, your a sincere and good guy, but you need to be more direct with your answers, and talk less.. you have my vote just because i’m upset at the other side.
Im voting yoni as is my mishpacha, since what the non district living yeger did by the dirty back room to get the nod is awful, plus yeger is a tool of the teachers union.
I am voting YONI..if he only has 10% heart like his father he will lead us the way his father did the last forty years. Burich asher Yoldesoy…
I’m sick and tired of the idea that we can only vote for people who are experienced, I see what those kinda political experts have accomplished in the past 8 years with all the experience they have.
Yoni, get someone to polish up your skills, your a good man, but like the other commenter here said, don’t talk so much, get to your point without so many elaborations, it’s makes you look insecure. but i like the fact that with you I see what I get, not polished, and no act your a real person..
I do agree that Yoni needs to improve some of his skills. However YONI has my and my family’s vote regardless . Let the Greenfield era disappear once and for all. Dont like the way he plays politics, but i do wish him lots of luck whatever hes going to be doing.
After watching the full interview, I’m reminded of a phrase: Just because you’ve cheered on the team, doesn’t mean you can be team captain. Does Yoni expect to gain experience of osmosis? I’ll vote for Kalman Yeger, because he has experience on the field, not in the stands.
Just the fact that Yoni still stands strong despite being attacked, besmeared, poked fun off by the other candidate tells me he is real, I was sure he would drop out 2 weeks after he made the announcement, but I see he is standing firm on his ground.
Yoni has stood tough for many causes, ans this speaks volumes for what he would do if elected. Yeger has a serious problem. He was not exposed to a role model of being a true עוסק בצרכי ציבור באמונה. Rather, he was raised to be a shyster, and to compromise the rigorous rules of truth and honesty to crush others to get rich and win. I fear that greatly. In fact, it is good reason to keep him away from public life.
I have known Yaeger for years as well. He has never been at the forefront of any issues of concern to the community. No one even thought about turning to him during difficult times. People always turned to Chaim Deutsch, Simcha Felder, and Dov Hikind. None of them are supporting Kalman.
There is a boatload of schmutz on Yeger. I will not join his invitation to battle on who can throw more schmutz. The negative flavor in this campaign started from Yeger. Setting that tone is a horrible omen for what may come if he gets into office. Another site that is popular in the frum community has become the campaign manager for Yeger, or so it seems, and headlines another anti-Hikind story once or twice a day. It is so disgusting that I have considered boycotting that site on my computer. It certainly will not get my vote. My prediction is that Yeger will win, but that he will be forced to leave office during his first term because of problematic behavior.