Municipal elections underway across Israel

Ballots opened at 7 am Tuesday morning, as the 2008 municipal elections began across Israel. Some 7,712 ballots have been spread throughout the country in order to allow 4,734,507 voters to choose one of 600 mayoral candidates, in 159 cities and local councils. The ballots will close at 10 pm.

The two most visible campaigns of the local race were those taking place in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, as four candidates in each city have been bidding for the public's vote.

Storming Tel Aviv's City Hall are current Mayor Ron Huldai, Knesset Member Dov Khenin (Hadash), Head of the Israeli Green Party Pe'er Visner and Major-General (Res.) Oren Shahor.

Huldai is considered favorite to win. Credited mostly for the metropolitan's real estate boost, he faced harsh criticism form those saying the city's new high-rise-sporting skyline caters only to the rich, thus not solving its growing need for affordable real estate.

The second burning issue which the Tel Aviv race focused on, was the growing shortage of parking spaces. A report complied by the municipality revealed that it lacks 18,000 residential parking spaces on a nightly basis, all while the city collects some NIS 200 million ($52 million) a year in parking tickets. The new mayor will have to address this problem as soon as he takes office.

Capital beat

Battling for the leadership of Jerusalem are four as well: Knesset Member Meir Porush (United Torah Judaism) is the city's ultra-Orthodox mayoral candidate; while on the secular side of the spectrum is businessman Nir Barkat.

The two other mayoral hopefuls are billionaire businessman and head of the Social Justice Party, Arcadi Gaydamak and Dan Biron, of the Ale Yarok (Green Leaf) Party.

Porush and Barkat have been the two most visible candidates of the race. The elections in Jerusalem, as it has been in recent years, centered mostly on whether the capital's future nature will be religious or secular.

Porush's campaign has tried to woo all voting sectors – ultra-Orthodox, religious, and seculars alike, playing up the need for a seasoned politician at the helm. Barkat focused his campaign on the dire need to solve the city's housing and employment problems, and boost its education system.

Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai voting (Photo: Yaron Brener)

Campaign trail

In the country's north, Kiryat Shmona residents have nine candidates to choose from, and a second round seems unavoidable, as is the case in Safed and Metula.

In Haifa, presiding Mayor Yona Yahav is expected to beat his six rivals, with only former Northern District Police Commander Ya'akov Borovsky posing any real competition.

Traveling inland, Netanya Mayor Miriam Feierberg is expected to keep her seat, as is Ramat Hasharon Mayor Yitzhak Rochberger. Holon mayor Moti Sasson is sure to keep the keys to the city, while Rishon Lezion Mayor Meir Nitzan faces an uphill battle against long-time opponent Dov Zur.

Further south, recently-indicted Rehovot Mayor Yehoshua Forer is up against six other candidates, while Ness Ziona's Yossi Shvo's win is guaranteed – he is the only candidate running.

Ashkelon has seven clamoring for the post, and the whiff of round two is already in the air. Sderot's residents have five candidates to choose from, including Achlama Peretz, wife of former Defense Minister Amir Peretz. Presiding Sderot Mayor Eli Moyal is not in the running.

Beersheba will have to decide between current Mayor Ya'acov Turner and his former deputy Rubik Danilowitz, which has taken the lead in recent polls. Mitzpe Ramon's residents have two seeking the mayorship, as does the city of Netivot; while in Eilat, Mayor Meir Yitzhak Halevi is seeking another term in office.

According to the Ministry of Interior, the municipal election cost over NIS 240 million ($63 million). Ministry polls expect a high voter turnout.

• For more information about your local election, contact the Ministry of Interior's hotline at 1-800-300059. The service is available in Hebrew, Arabic, English, Russian and Amharic. Those hard of hearing can fax 1-800-200286.
  

Hagai Einav, Ahiya Raved, Raanan Ben-Zur, Eli Senyor, Shmulik Hadad and Ilana Curiel contributed to this report