Moishy (left) and Abraham (right) Tischler
Two baby-faced Borough Park brothers are looking to take down established pols in upcoming state elections.
But that hasn't stopped the politically ambitious duo from challenging ex-Councilman Simcha Felder for the new state Senate’s "Super Jewish" seat and community power broker Dov Hikind (D-Borough Park) for his Assembly seat in the Democratic primary in September.
The underdogs proudly handed in thousands of signatures from registered Democrats required to land on the ballot on the Democratic line at a Board of Elections office near Wall St. on Tuesday.
"You're back again," an election worker told Abraham.
The elder Tischler first grabbed headlines in 2010 when he was tossed off the ballot due to technical problems in the special election won by Councilman David Greenfield.
The brothers have learned their lesson, now armed with legal help and hundreds of extra signatures to pad their count. Abraham needed 1,000 signatures but handed in 3,000 and Moishy needed 500 and submitted 2,700.
"We've been knocking on doors every night. People want a change," said Moishy, who denied their longshot candidacies have anything to do with impressing potential matchmakers as critics in the community have suggested.
"If somebody wanted a (wife) there are many other ways,” he said. “That’s not our goal.”
Many believe the political novice brothers face an uphill battle in their quest for public office.
“You'd have to say they are tilting at windmills,” political consultant George Arzt said. “If they believe that they can win at a future time and are just trying to gain name recognition, that's fine, but they are certainly not going to win now.”
Hikind and Felder declined to comment.
The naysayers haven't deterred the buoyant brothers, who have leaned on their parents, Harold and Linda, for help gathering signatures and money to bankroll their future campaigns.
Even their 12-year-old brother Jacob has asked to help, but only those 18 and older can collect signatures under state law.
While they may be young and relatively inexperienced, the brothers already speak and act like veteran politicos.
They answered every question with generalities about the need for job creation and the importance of eliminating burdensome fines for minor transgressions on small business - and they wore dark suits despite the sweltering heat to the Board of Elections.
By Reuven Blau / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
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