Porush. Bringing voters from Safed
Photo: Reuters
Barkat. Flattering polls
Photo: Dudi Vaaknin
Gaydamak. Depending on Arabs
Photo: PR
Biron. Representing ecologists
Photo: Aner Greene
Four candidates in final stretch of battle for Jerusalem
Who will be capital's next mayor? Porush plans to bring registered voters in from as far away as Safed while Barkat settles for smattering of strategic speeches; Gaydamak depending on Arab vote while lesser known Biron draws supporters with accordion
Thousands of people are expected to cast their ballots in Jerusalem on Tuesday and elect the capital's next mayor from among the four candidates still in the running. In addition to this there are also 13 parties vying for city council seats.
Porush's campaign has tried to woo ultra-Orthodox, religious, and secular voters with various tactics. Recently the candidate attempted to soften his image in the eyes of the non-religious youth by appearing at secular cultural centers as well as bars and clubs.
MK Meir Porush of United Torah Judaism is the ultra-Orthodox mayoral candidate. His campaign, with the slogan "Jerusalem will love Porush – from experience," has attempted to draw voters by asserting he is the most experienced candidate.
Demolishing Secular Sect?
Ultra-Orthodox candidate in Jerusalem mayoral race foresees local municipalities completely overtaken by haredim, says birthrate demographics proof enough
The ultra-Orthodox candidate's campaign has also organized a number of transport convoys, aiming to bring people registered as Jerusalem residents to the capital from various cities such as Safed, Haifa, Bnei Brak, and Beit Shemesh.
The secular mayoral candidate is Nir Barkat, a businessman who made his name during the high-tech boom. Recently he has been campaigning at various cultural centers, and the polls have consistently awarded him a comfortable lead over his rivals.
But Barkat refuses to hang his hopes on the numbers, no matter how flattering. "Don't think about victory at all," he told his campaign managers in a recent meeting. "The toughest job still lies ahead – getting supporters out of their homes and into the voting booths."
Barkat has 2,500 volunteers working for him, most working to engage secular voters and interest them in the election. The volunteers have a tough day ahead of them, as many of them will be responsible for driving registered voters to Jerusalem from wherever they may be on Tuesday. According to the campaign's calculations, Barkat needs 100,000 votes in order to win.
Counting on Arabs and music lovers
The polls have so far not been particularly kind to billionaire businessman and chairman of the Social Justice Party, Arcadi Gaydamak. His campaign has invested heavily in the Arab vote, which his managers feel certain they will be able to get.
"The scoop will be the support Gaydamak receives from the Arab sector," says Deputy Mayor Yigal Amadi. "The Arabs will come in hordes."
The fourth and somewhat lesser known candidate is Dan Biron, of the Ale Yarok (Green Leaf) Party. He is a renowned accordion player and swears that even if he becomes mayor, he won't give up his favorite pastime. "It's not just livelihood, it's in my blood," he says.
Biron's campaign has cost less than $1,000, and was run solely from the home of a fellow party member, Ohad Shem-Tov. "I'm running against three millionaires, but it's best to work with friends," says Biron. "We have a few hundred volunteers, everyone here volunteers. We don't pay – because we can't.
Biron was shocked to learn from the Ministry of the Interior that he would have to pay for the printing of his voter ballots. "We don't have offices, publishing houses, gadgets, press consultants, or makeup artists," he said. "We are real, ecological, full of ideas, and truthful. I call on Barkat to remove himself from the race in so as not to divide the secular vote."
