Just In: Kalman Yeger Is Greenfield’s Replacement For City Council

Kalman Yeger is officially the Democratic nominee for Councilmember David Greenfield’s now open position in District 44 — and received an endorsement from the councilman himself.

“I’ve known Kalman Yeger for 20 years. He is one of the smartest, hardest-working and most honest people I know,” Greenfield said. “He has worked for Borough Presidents, Senators and Council Members. Kalman understands the struggles of regular people: he rents an apartment, rides the subway, pays yeshiva tuition and works hard for his family. He’s the best candidate to replace me in City Hall and I wholeheartedly endorse him.”

Council Member Greenfield decided not to run for reelection after the candidate petition filing deadline, which means that the nomination for his seat is to be controlled by a Committee on Vacancies named by Greenfield.

This morning, Greenfield’s Committee on Vacancies met and voted to designate Yeger as his replacement for the Democratic nomination. Greenfield was running unopposed.

Yeger was set to run against Chaim Deutsch in District 48, but withdrew from that race shortly just before midnight on Monday, Politico writes.

Daily News ran an editorial this morning calling Greenfield’s handpicking of his successor “legal, but not very kosher, disenfranchising an entire district.”

“This shady move essentially allows him to pick his own successor and give him the keys to the kingdom without any meaningful participation by any other possible challenger,” Dick Dadey, executive director of Citizens Union, told Crain’s. “It undermines our democracy by the inside-baseball game being played here and by shutting out the voters.”

Yeger has been a member of Community Board 14 for the past 17 years. CB 14 Chairman Alvin Berk told BKLYNER that “Kalman Yeger’s advice and counsel – always well-informed and carefully-considered – have been invaluable to Community Board 14 for many years. Although the board does not authorize me to endorse candidates for public office, I am sure CB14’s members and staff will join me in wishing Kalman well as he takes the next step in his career in public service.”

While we wait to interview Yeger, here are a few facts about him:

• Crain’s NY called Yeger, Greenfield’s “protege”.
• He currently serves as Counsel and the Executive Director of Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.’s election committee.
• He serves as Special Advisor and Counsel to Greenfield.
• He studied at the New York Law School.