An immigrant from Ukraine is running for the City Council of New York: what is known about her

36-year-old Ukrainian immigrant Inna Vernikov, a successful marriage and immigration attorney, has nominated herself from the 48th arrondissement for the position of New York City Councilor. The Republican seeks to replace councilor Chaim Deutsch. Read more about Inna in the ForumDaily New York material.

"The future of New York scares me"

“I am running for the New York City Council in the only borough in Brooklyn where there is a real chance of going from Democrat to Republican. The registration of new voters in this district testifies to their predominantly republican views, - wrote Inna in his post on Facebook. - I am shocked and grateful for all the donations my campaign has received. "

“I am doing this to fight for our city and for your families. To preserve the values ​​and freedoms that we all cherish as Americans, ”added Vernikov.

“I am running for office because I am worried and afraid of the future of New York, the great city in which I have lived for the past twenty-five years. Progressive politics and anti-police attitudes threaten our entire city and way of life. I want schools to reopen safe, our police are backed up and business thrives. My priority will be to help all people in my area, and I am sure that I can be an excellent representative for them, ”the newspaper quotes the politician as saying. ShorefrontNews.

She was supported by the chairman of the Brooklyn Republican and Conservative parties.

“Today we are taking the first step towards returning sanity and good governance to our city by proudly nominating Inna Vernikov to the New York City Council. Inna is a strong, sane, committed community supporter who will represent the entire community with pride, strength and decency, ”said Ted Gore, Chairman of the Brooklyn Republican Party.

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“The Kings County Conservative Party is proud to support Inna Vernikov. Its platform of law and order and financial responsibility will bring common sense to the city council, ”said Fran Vella-Marrone, chair of the Brooklyn Conservative Party.

New York State Assembly member Dov Hikind also strongly supported her: “Inna has been a courageous fighter all her life. She openly opposed anti-Semitism and any kind of hatred. "

What is known about her

Vernikov is a lawyer who immigrated to the United States from Ukraine as a child. For the past five years, she has run her own immigration and divorce law firm based in lower Manhattan. ShorefrontNews.

Vernikov is no stranger to local politics: she previously served as Special Assistant to New York State Assembly member Dova Heikind.

She is currently chair of the American Against Anti-Semitism Women's Committee, an organization founded to combat the growing threat of anti-Semitism in the United States.

“Everything I know about fighting anti-Semitism and hatred I learned from Dov, who has dedicated his life to serving our community. Even after his 36-year tenure in the New York State Assembly, Dov continues to defend what is right when no one else is doing it and speaks when everyone else is silent. I strive to be just such a leader, ”said Vernikov.

She intends to address a number of issues that she considers vital to her district, which includes Brighton Beach, Manhattan Beach, Sheepshead Bay, parts of Gravesend, Midwood, Luna Park and Trump Village. She believes in strong law enforcement support, quality education (including programs for the gifted and talented), less bureaucracy for small businesses, and fighting anti-Semitism and discrimination.

During the pandemic, Wernikov volunteered at a local canteen, donating food to police at the 61st New York Police Department in Brooklyn, as well as key staff at Staten Island University Hospital.

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“I will fight for our city and for my voters, as I do as a lawyer and activist. It's time to save our city, ”says Vernikov.

City Council elections

The New York City Council General Election will be held on November 2, 2021, with a primaries on June 22, 2021. There are several special elections for seats vacated in 2020 and early 2021. This special election will be the first to use ranked voting.

Due to a possible redistribution of polling stations as a result of the 2020 census, candidates will run for the first time for a two-year term, instead of a four-year term, which will resume in the 2025 elections.