Grapevine: Local authorities design tomorrow together

By GREER FAY CASHMAN
Nitzan Horowitz521 (photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem)
Nitzan Horowitz521
(photo credit: Marc Israel Sellem)
SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS and institutions established during the British Mandate period have continued to function and even expand, sometimes under their original names and sometimes under new names that still bear a relationship to the original.
One such organization is The Union of Local Authorities in Israel, an umbrella organization of 265 local authorities, including those of minority communities. The ULAI is their representative in dealings with the government and its ministries, the Knesset, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund, the Histadrut labor federation and other public institutions. It recognizes the importance of being properly prepared to represent not only the organization and specific municipalities but also Israel, especially as so many of its member councils have twin or sister city arrangements with numerous municipalities abroad.
Established in 1938, a decade before the establishment of the state, the ULAI, originally known as the League of Local Councils, is currently celebrating its 75th anniversary. In celebration, it is holding the two-day Designing Tomorrow Together Conference at the Dan Panorama Hotel in Tel Aviv on July 1 and 2, in cooperation with the Lauder School of Government, Diplomacy and Strategy at the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya.
ULAI chairman Shlomo Buhbut, who is the longstanding mayor of Ma’alot- Tarshiha, will speak at both the opening and closing sessions as well as on one of the panels. Curiously, despite the significance of the conference, neither President Shimon Peres nor Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu are listed among the speakers. However, there are several ministers on the list, namely Interior Minister Gideon Sa’ar, Welfare and Social Services Minister Meir Cohen, Transportation Minister Israel Katz and Finance Minister Yair Lapid, who will deliver the closing address. There will also be a former minister, Amnon Rubinstein who will be speaking in his capacity as law professor at IDC.
FORMER Likud MK Carmel Shama-Hacohen, who was deputy speaker in the 18th Knesset, is running for mayor of Ramat Gan. Shama-Hacohen was a member of the Ramat Gan Municipal Council from 2003-2009. In his only term as a legislator, he was a member of 18 Knesset committees, two of which he chaired. In addition, he was a member of nine Knesset lobbies – chairing the one on prevention of illegal immigration to Israel. His Knesset activities embraced such a broad range of subjects that he is truly well-prepared to take on the responsibilities of mayor. Zvi Bar, who has served as Ramat Gan mayor for 14 years, has been indicted on charges of fraud, bribery, breach of trust and money laundering. It is unlikely that he will be able to run for another term in the upcoming local council elections.
UNLESS A dark horse suddenly enters the contest and romps into first place, it would seem that Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai will serve yet another term. Haaretz reported this week that according to a survey conducted by the Rafi Smith Institute on behalf of the Labor Party, Huldai will receive 53 percent of the vote, while Meretz contender MK Nitzan Horowitz will receive only 26%. Three other people who announced they were running for mayor will receive only 1% each if the results of the survey prove to be correct.
Even though Horowitz is unlikely at this stage to win the October 22 election, the survey indicates that his party will double its strength in the municipal council and will have six representatives instead of three, as is presently the case. Huldai’s faction One Tel Aviv will also improve its position, increasing its mandates from five to six, and the independent Labor faction will receive two seats on the council.
This will be the first time in 20 years that Labor will run a list that is separate from that of Huldai’s. The separation does not mean a significant break, because Labor has announced that it will support Huldai’s candidacy for mayor. The apparent big loser in the council elections will be Ir Lekulanu (A City for All of Us), which will be reduced from five to two seats.
Of course, anything can happen between now and election day. It should be remembered that none of the pollsters correctly forecast the overall results of this year's Knesset elections, and anyone who wants to run for mayor still has until September 17 to throw their hat into the ring. In addition, none of the forecasts for Tel Aviv City Council seats are likely to be correct, as Yesh Atid has announced that it will also field a council list. Given some of the unpopular taxes and cutbacks proposed by Finance Minister and Yesh Atid leader Lapid, it will be surprising if Yesh Atid makes an impact on the council. But then again, Lapid did much better than anticipated in the Knesset elections, so what will happen in the council elections is anyone’s guess.


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