In an unpredcedented development, Councilor Joe Lobenstein
MBE was elected Mayor of the London Borough of Hackney for a
third consecutive year.
Councilor Lobenstein who is vice chairman of the British
Aguda and vice president of the Union of Orthodox Hebrew
Congregations, has served as a member of the Hackney Borough
Council, which includes the charedi communities of Stamford
Hill, for the past 35 years.
In England mayors of local boroughs are usually elected for
one year only, and it is unprecedented for anyone to have
been elected for three consecutive years.
Hackney has a "hung council" with no party having a
majority.
Councilor Lobenstein's candidature had the joint support of
the Conservative party which he represents as well as the
Labor party which is the largest faction in the Council.
In supporting his candidature, the Labor party leader
Councilor David Manion paid tribute to Councilor Lobenstein's
long standing dedication to public affairs, his fairness in
conducting controversial meetings and his efforts to
establish a peaceful relationship among opposing parties.
It was announced that the Mayors's Charity Fund had raised
nearly $68,000 during the past two years.
