The doctor is in NY race to KO ‘Squad’
A pediatrician who served as the mayor of Scarsdale is launching a long-shot bid to topple New York’s newest “Squad” member, Rep. Jamaal Bowman.
Dr. Miriam Levitt Flisser, a registered independent running on the Republican Party line, said Bowman is too far to the left of residents in the district on issues such as crime, border security, the economy and defending Israel. The 16th Congressional District includes Westchester County and a sliver of The Bronx.
“Bowman is not representative of the people of the district. He’s much more extreme,” said Levitt Flisser, 76, now medical director of the Bronxville school district.
“Crime is a big issue. He’s made statements against the police and supported defunding the police.”
Bowman, 46, a former Bronx middle school principal, won the seat in 2020 after defeating 16term incumbent Rep. Eliot Engel in the Democratic primary — in much the same way progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez knocked out ex-Rep. Joe Crowley in a 2018 primary in her crosscounty Bronx-Queens district.
Upon his election, Bowman declared himself a new member of the House’s leftist “Squad,” which includes Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Rep. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, Rep. Cori Bush of Missouri and Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan.
Bowman has made defunding the police central to his political identity, and accused cops of being agents of “white supremacy.”
Not of one ‘Accord’
Levitt Flisser said she has lived the American dream after been smuggled out of Eastern Europe as an infant during the Nazi persecution of Jews.
In her role with Bronxville schools, Levitt Flisser said she used her skills to safely prepare her public schools during the COVID-19 outbreak and limit disruption to students compared with other districts.
Levitt Flisser faulted Bowman as being insufficiently pro-Israel, noting he withdrew support of legislation to strengthen and expand the Abraham Accords negotiated by former President Donald Trump’s administration that normalized relations between Israel and some Arab countries.
Bowman visited the Jewish State as well as the Palestinian territories late last year, and he said the trip informed his decision to conclude that the Abraham Accords were counterproductive.
“In the end, it is my estimation that these actions will only escalate violence in the Middle East and make already vulnerable communities less safe,” Bowman said in a February letter to constituents. “This agreement to normalize relations unhelpfully isolates Palestine and Western Sahara.”
Bowman voted against the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill pushed by President Biden, arguing it wasn’t expansive enough. He voted for the Inflation Reduction Act, which includes spending on progressive policies such as combating climate change and extending subsidies for the Affordable Care Act.
Levitt Flisser said Democratic pandemic and post-pandemic stimulus spending have “aided inflation” and that she would have voted against it.
She said addressing climate change is important but that inflation and crime were problems that should be dealt with first.
Money in the bank
Bowman has a big fundraising advantage, with $491,603 in cash on hand while Levitt Flisser has not yet filed a fundraising report, according to Federal Election Commission records.
Bowman defended his tenure, with his campaign saying “his record of accomplishment for the people of NY-16 speaks for itself. He’s been delivering for his constituents and bringing resources directly back to this district, including hundreds of millions of dollars for our towns and communities.”