Posted on 02/26/18
It’s official: four more community activists are running for office: Tehila Fink, Shevy Friedman, Kalman Finkelstein, and Shmop Weisbord filed their candidacies.
Baltimore, MD - Feb. 24, 2018 - On Thursday, Feb. 22, four Orthodox community activists filed their candidacy for Baltimore City Democratic State Central Committee, with the Primary Election to be held on June 26th. Tuesday, February 27 marks the filing deadline for candidates in Maryland’s 2018 elections, and to date, five community members are on the ballot.
Dalya Attar has been running a very rigorous State Delegate campaign for several months, which will be more visible once lawn signs are legally allowed up in March. But now the Orthodox community has even more reason to register Democrat and come out to vote in June, as four local community members are running for Democrat State Central Committee: Tehila Fink, Bassheva “Shevy” Friedman, Kalman Finkelstein, and Shmop Weisbord. They are not running against each other, but rather as a slate.
A quick glance at the Orhodox candidates running:
• Tehila Fink graduated from the University of Maryland School of Law. After receiving her bachelors and working with children with disabilities, Tehila pursued a law degree with the goal of being able to help and advocate for the community. Prior to law school she was worked one on one with students who needed extra support to succeed in the class room. While attending the University of Maryland, Tehila researched extensively and wrote her thesis graduation paper on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, focusing on what should be provided to children with disabilities attending private schools. Tehila is a strong believer in each person doing what they can to help the community and each of its individual members. She currently practices law at Luchansky Law and is married to Mickey Feldbaum.
• Shevy Friedman is a pediatric physical therapist who received her doctorate from Touro College in New York and runs her own practice, Early Steps Therapy. She understands many issues about public school education, having worked for 5 years for Baltimore City Public Schools. Her passion is ensuring that all children, especially those with special needs, are safe and provided with the adequate resources, skills, and opportunities to reach their own unique potential. Shevy was a founding member of the JEWELS Inclusive School, where she is on the Board of Directors. She is married with four children and lives in Baltimore City.
• Kalman Finkelstein, married to Gina and a father of five, is a co-owner of a chain of furniture stores in Baltimore, as well as a partner in Masada Tactical. A fourth generation Baltimore City resident, his ancestors immigrated straight to Baltimore, and today he lives only a few miles from where they originally settled. Kalman has been very involved in community and public safety issues, and is very concerned about taxes, strengthening business growth and job creation.
• Sean “Shmop” Weisbord has worked in the retail real estate industry for the past ten years having successfully negotiated numerous leases with leading national retailers and small businesses. Shmop is a native to Baltimore but started his business career in Australia and has lived and worked on four continents. He moved back to Baltimore with his wife and four children 15 years ago. While he enjoys acting and film production, he uses most of his spare time in community service and holds the position of director on several boards.
Why is the Central Committee so important? In Baltimore City, the Democratic Party is in full political control. Many important decisions are made by the Central Committee, such as filling open positions for higher office. For example, two of the three sitting Delegates from District 41 in the Maryland General Assembly were appointed to their legislative seats by the Central Committee, as was State Senator Nat Oaks. Three of the four representatives for the district in Annapolis happen to all sit on the Central Committee, and voted themselves into higher office, where today they are making decisions for Maryland about funding private school vouchers, raising taxes, sentences for violent criminals and drug dealers, sanctuary cities, and other important issues.
The Central Committee also gives input into the Democratic Party platform, and it is important for our community to have a strong voice in that.
On June 26 (although early voting begins June 14), it will be up to you to determine if you want a stronger political voice for our community. We must register everyone eligible to vote – as Democrats. And everyone must not only turn out to vote, but cast their ballots for all of our candidates.
But that’s not enough. They need your help and support now – door knocking, distributing literature, registering voters at designated locations in the community, and more. Their campaigns start today, so get involved and make a difference for our community.
• Kalman Finkelstein, married to Gina and a father of five, is a co-owner of a chain of furniture stores in Baltimore, as well as a partner in Masada Tactical. A fourth generation Baltimore City resident, his ancestors immigrated straight to Baltimore, and today he lives only a few miles from where they originally settled. Kalman has been very involved in community and public safety issues, and is very concerned about taxes, strengthening business growth and job creation.
• Sean “Shmop” Weisbord has worked in the retail real estate industry for the past ten years having successfully negotiated numerous leases with leading national retailers and small businesses. Shmop is a native to Baltimore but started his business career in Australia and has lived and worked on four continents. He moved back to Baltimore with his wife and four children 15 years ago. While he enjoys acting and film production, he uses most of his spare time in community service and holds the position of director on several boards.
• Tehila Fink graduated from the University of Maryland School of Law. After receiving her bachelors and working with children with disabilities, Tehila pursued a law degree with the goal of being able to help and advocate for the community. Prior to law school she was worked one on one with students who needed extra support to succeed in the class room. While attending the University of Maryland, Tehila researched extensively and wrote her thesis graduation paper on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, focusing on what should be provided to children with disabilities attending private schools. Tehila is a strong believer in each person doing what they can to help the community and each of its individual members. She currently practices law at Luchansky Law and is married to Mickey Feldbaum.
• Shevy Friedman is a pediatric physical therapist who received her doctorate from Touro College in New York and runs her own practice, Early Steps Therapy. She understands many issues about public school education, having worked for 5 years for Baltimore City Public Schools. Her passion is ensuring that all children, especially those with special needs, are safe and provided with the adequate resources, skills, and opportunities to reach their own unique potential. Shevy was a founding member of the JEWELS Inclusive School, where she is on the Board of Directors. She is married with four children and lives in Baltimore City.
