interesting municipal elections in Bet Shemesh

I had said earlier that the most interesting municipal elections set for the end of October looks to be the elections in Bnei Braq. I still think that is probably the case but Bet Shemesh is turning into a very close second.

New parties are opening up, including new Haredi parties, threatening to upend the standard Haredi approach to elections. New candidates are announcing the possibility of running for mayor as they let the public know they are taking the forms to submit candidacy (which doesnt mean they will run but it at least means they are considering it and will have to announce soon, by the deadline, if they are) - this includes possible candidates form the Likud, from newer Haredi communities in the city (such as the young haredi communities - what they call themselves, and the modern haredi communities), among others.

With all these candidates and parties, if it happens, anything can happen. There isnt really a way to know or accurately predict who or how it will affect the current candidates. From whom will they take votes, with whom will they split votes, etc.

It could very well be that they are letting everyone know they are no longer playing by the old rules, they will not vote for someone or a party as dictated by the rabbonim or as constructed by the askanim in the name of the rabbonim. Of course the old mainstream Haredim wont go along with this, for the most part, but the younger ones, among the ones who are also going to academy and getting an education and working and going to the army, they are starting to do things differently.

We'll see how this affects elections and the future makeup of the Haredi community, but it is definitely an interesting development

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