IAC for Action Candidate Questionnaires and Quotes
Mayor City Council and County Officials
I appreciate that you're gathering information about anti-Semitism and issues related to the Jewish community. It's an important subject. That being said, I am intimately intertwined with a large part of the Jewish community for the Democratic Primary that includes deep relationships with orgs and their members, including but not limited to the JCRC, Jewish Federation, the Kemp Mill Orthodox community and an informal confederation of congregations that numbered to about 25 shuls that reached over 10,000 Jews with recommended candidates. The Washington Jewish Week endorsed me as well.
Scott Goldberg Evan
Montgomery County Council at Large | Maryland
As County Executive, the Montgomery County Jewish community will no longer stand alone against hate. I plan to continue Councilmember Andrew Friedson’s strong efforts to fund the protection of houses of worship and will hold MCPS leadership accountable to ensure they swiftly address the rising tide of antisemitism in concrete steps that protect Jewish students and staff.
I will closely follow the statistics from the Montgomery County Police Department’s monthly bias reporting to ensure our County's response to antisemitism, Anti-Black hate is prompt and effective. I will continue to affirm the IHRA definition of antisemitism adopted by the County Council.
In my campaign and as County Executive, I will focus on local issues that directly influence the daily life of our residents. Ben Zoma in Pirkei Avot, asks “Who is wise? One who learns from every person”.
Through my campaign, I have appreciated how much I have learned from every person and community I have met. As County Executive, I plan to continue to regularly meet and learn from members of the Jewish community. I am also looking forward to coordinating with our local law enforcement officers, for whom I am so grateful for their service protecting our houses of worship.
My previous actions and words are evidence of my commitment against this pernicious Jew hatred: I spoke out against a member of my own party running for election who was sharing antisemitic conspiracy theories, I testified against Bill 23-26 which disarms synagogues and houses of worship and I wrote a letter in support of the Silver Spring Jewish Center in their fight to defend themselves, I stood with the Jewish community when there was an antisemitic incident at Ben Yehuda Pizza in Silver Spring, and I have been an active member of the Maryland Jewish Alliance Facebook group for a long time. Together we can build a stronger, more inclusive Montgomery County.
Esther Wells
Montgomery County Executive | Maryland
I grew up in the former USSR and have unfortunately experienced antisemitism personally. My family left Russia when I was a teenager, specifically to find a better world free of discrimination. We ended up in the US, but life could have worked out differently, and we could just as easily have been residents of one of the kibbutzim attacked by Hamas. My teenage kids could have been at the Nova music festival, and I feel deep grief in my heart for that horrible day.
I am running for Town Council in Princeton, and if elected, I will have the opportunity and responsibility to create an environment in our town where all people are free to express their views, practice their faith, and live without fear. Over the next three years here in Princeton, this will mean shaping both the physical environment (as we revise our land use regulations) and the psychological environment, by setting policies and modeling how we communicate and relate to each other in our exceptional community.
If elected, I will have no more impact on our country’s foreign policy than any other resident of Princeton. However, I believe the largest impact I can have toward eliminating antisemitism and discrimination in the future is as a mother. My Jewish children go to school, play sports, make music, perform in plays, and work on stage sets together with kids of all religions, races, and countries of origin. I truly believe that building friendships on that personal level is the most productive way to build peace.
Marina Rubina
Princeton Town Council | New Jersey
Mayor City Council and County Officials
I believe I am the only Jewish candidate running for Governor of Florida this election cycle. While I am a huge proponent of the Jewish people and believe in Israel's need to exist, I am not an advocate of Netanyahu/Trump policies that allow for genocidal conditions in the Middle East. I am also very against Hamas and Hezbollah, but believe that the Palestinian people also have a right to exist and to be free of violence, just like the Israeli people. I believe both trump and Beni have committed war crimes in an effort to hide themselves from their own corruption and legal troubles. If elected, I would be happy to be part of the solution between Palestine, Israel and other regional stakeholders to find a peaceful and permanent solution. I am not naive or full-headed enough to say I have the right solution, but would be able to listen and mediate between parties. If Palenstine and Israel citizens both want a one-state, shared solution, working toward that is good. If they want a seperate two-state solution, also good. If there is not consensus among the people, they working to understand the options and risks without an end goal in mind of one or two state is a good first step.
Erik Morris
Governor | Florida
Antisemitism has no place in our state, our schools, or our communities. As governor, I will stand firmly against hatred, harassment, and violence. Every person deserves to worship, live, work, and raise a family without fear because of their faith. We can disagree without turning against one another. We are neighbors, not enemies.
Mike Minogue
Governor | Massachusetts
Antisemitism has no place in our state, our schools, or our communities. As governor, I will stand firmly against hatred, harassment, and violence. Every person deserves to worship, live, work, and raise a family without fear because of their faith. We can disagree without turning against one another. We are neighbors, not enemies.
Mike Minogue
Governor | Massachusetts
State Legislature
We have the support of Bay Area Jewish Action, California Jewish Democrats, and the Jewish Democratic Club of Marin along with Senator Adam Schiff and Assemblymember Zbur, Ahrens, and Gabriel.
Eric Lucan
California State Assembly | California
I am supportive of the Jewish people and any anti-discrimination against them. I would support laws that protect anyone based on their religion, sex and race.
Ryan Neill
Florida House of Representatives | Florida
I would appreciate your consideration, and look forward to working together on mutual issues. I have been a State Rep. for 20 years, so feel free to contact local Jewish Organizations that you are working with to learn of my support, my attendance at Jewish related events, the JCC and Hannukah celebrations over the years.
Angelo Puppolo
Massachusetts House of Representatives | Massachusetts
Until recently, I served on the MA Hate Commission. I served on the Anti-Semitism Commission. I have filed anti-BDS legislation as well as IHRA legislation.
Steven Howitt
Massachusetts House of Representatives | Massachusetts
Board of Education
No written responses were recorded in the Board of Education questionnaire report.