“I’m not running for Congress as a stepping-stone to do something else. I’m running to win it”
The New York City lawmaker will run in the Democratic primary against Rep. Yvette Clarke, who has served since 2007. If victorious, Deutsch would become Congress’s first fully Orthodox Jewish member.
The founder of the Flatbush Shomrim has been working in the city council since 1996, first as a liaison to Councilman Mike Nelson, and since 2014 as the councilman representing Midwood. During that period, he has forged a reputation as a workhorse with a vaunted constituent services division.
“People are constantly asking me, ‘Oh, so we’re going to lose you in the City Council, what are we going to do?’ ” Deutsch said in an interview.
“As a member of Congress,” he promised, “my services to my constituents won’t change. In fact, I’ll be able to help my district from a much better position. Every title depends on what you make of it and how you’re doing your job. So people are going to get the same services locally as before. I’m just going to be able to do many things on a larger scale.”
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