Write-In Voters Give Felder Conservative Ballot in ‘Super Jewish’ Race

Deputy City Comptroller Simcha Felder has won the Conservative Party ballot line in his bid for the 17th District "super Jewish" state Senate seat in Brooklyn, according to results certified Oct. 2 by the state Board of Elections.

Felder was not on the ballot but convinced 113 party members to write in his name at the polls during last month's primary. State Sen. David Storobin, the only candidate on the ballot, won 83 votes. Storobin was elected to the Senate earlier this year as a Republican representing a seat that is no longer on the district map.

In an interview Thursday afternoon, Storobin said Felder had recruited supporters to join the Conservative Party in August in time for the election. "He registered over 100 of his friends and cousins and people they know who are supporters of the Democrat party, who all live within the same few blocks," said the senator. "He failed to get almost any votes of people who are actually involved in the party."

Felder's victory gives him three ballot lines in his battle with Storobin for the newly created district, which includes Borough Park and Flatbush and other heavily Jewish areas. A Democrat, he also created Tax Cut Now party by gathering signatures. Storobin's name will appear only on the Republican ballot during the Nov. 6 general election.

"The results of this primary clearly demonstrate that members of the Conservatve Party know who the real conservative is in this race and that is Simcha Felder," said Kalman Yeger, a special advisor to Felder's campaign.