r(5 N' '4L5 Where Boro Park Vacuum? it Hikind's troubles could spell diminished influence for Brooklyn's Orthodox community. all STEWART AIN SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS begins! Come shop! 6 N , (810) 851-1260 Inside Orchard Mall • Orchard Lake Road at Maple Featuring fashions and accessories for children and juniors LOCATED IN THE ORCHARD MALL 6385 ORCHARD LAKE ROAD AT MAPLE WEST BLOOMFIELD 48322 248.855.4488 MONDAY - TUESDAY WEDNESDAY FRIDAY - SATURDAY 10 AM- 5:30 PM THURSDAY 10 AM - 8 PM OPEN Sunday 12-5 20% off everyday 20% off everyday 9- 1 A Items under $25 excluded ft-c, e-x-v 6 heirloom, S EL,17,C2 - EI and gallery A INT 1_3 S 17 , 12 V C. Fs_ 50°/0 Off all services with Carol Lee on any Monday or Tuesday EssA-33-1 Next time you feed your face, think about your heart. Go easy on your heart and start cutting back on foods that are high in saturated fat and cholesterol. The change'll do you good. 20 9 American Heart Association WE'RE FIGHTING FOR YOUR LIFE T he indictment of embattled Brooklyn Assemblyman Dov Hikind will create a power vacuum in the Or- thodox Jewish community that political observers believe may be impossible to fill. Nearly a dozen political ob- servers and consultants agreed unanimously in interviews that there is no one in the wings who could wield the extraordinary po- litical clout Hikind has amassed since he was first elected in 1983. "You're not going to see some- body who can dance at both Republican and Democratic wed- dings," said Democratic political consultant Hank Sheinkopf, re- ferring to Hikind's well-publicized bucking of his party to endorse such Republicans as George Pata- ki for governor and Rudolph Giu- liani for mayor. Rabbi Yechezkel Pikus, execu- tive director of the Council of Jew- ish Organizations of Flatbush, said, "No particular name surfaces in my mind of someone who has the stature [of Hikind]. His is go- ing to be a hard position to fill. He has been an ardent spokesman for the constituency he represents and the community at large, and I don't know of anyone on the hori- zon with that kind of charisma and power." Hikind's political clout started to wane two years ago after an in- vestigation in the New York Jew- ish Week questioned his ties with the Council of Jewish Organiza- tions of Borough Park and anoth- er Jewish charity to which Hikind helped funnel more than $7,800 in state money over four years. Well-publicized federal raids on the COJO offices followed, caus- ing many people to begin dis- tancing themselves from Hikind. Two top COJO officials, Paul Chernick and Rabbi Elimelech Naiman, later were indicted on charges of conspiracy and embez- zlement. "Everyone assumed he [Hikind] would be indicted once the others were," said one political observer. "He was not a player in recent months. He was ostracized by Giu- liani and has had limited access to Pataki in the last few months. "He's been seen in the commu- nity, but he has not been the ad- dress people went to when they had a problem with government because they assumed he did not have the power to deliver." Hikind allegedly accepted more than $30,000 worth of trips and other gifts from COJO. In an in- terview two years ago, he denied any improprieties. Hikind issued a statement say- ing, "As always, my main concern is serving my constituents and I will continue to do so." At least one pundit believes a longtime rival of Hikind's — City Councilman Noach Dear—is best positioned to fill Hikind's position. "Noach will try to get as much as he can and he has a good chance," said the source. Another said Dear "has to be perceived as a conciliator and as one who can build consensus." If successful, Dear would be in a po- sition of power to select Hikind's successor in the Assembly should the seven-term Democrat be in- dicted and convicted on federal corruption charges. "If Dear is careful, he might be able to satisfy the different fac- tions and become the kingmaker in Borough Park," said one ob- server. "But he has to tread very carefully." Dear, who has close ties to Giu- liani and President Bill Clinton, also would gain increased stature in his anticipated bid for the con- An indictment shakes up Brooklyn politics. gressional seat of Rep. Charles Schumer, D-Brooklyn, should Schumer run for governor. "If [Dear] wins, it would in- crease his influence around the whole country," said Jerry Skurnik, a political consultant. "It's not morally sound from a secular or nonsecular standpoint to dance on this guy's grave," said Sheinkopf, who has worked for both Dear and Hikind. "So long as he is in place, nobody is going to emerge. Halachically, it would be wrong until his [Hikind's] situa- tion is clarified." But that has not stopped the various religious factions that comprise Borough Park from preparing to jockey for position should Hikind's seat become va- cant. The lack of a dominant group in the area is seen as the reason for the downfall of the COJO of Borough Park. "All of the groups were looking to make deals in the community and COJO, as it tried to make deals with them all, lost sight of its mission," said one observer. ❑ New York Jewish Week