Bowman ‘leading race’ to become next Board president, leaked data suggests
Unofficial early canvassing data suggests Amanda Bowman is front-runner to succeed Marie van der Zyl as Board president
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
Leaked canvassing data for the forthcoming Board of Deputies presidential election has appeared to show Amanda Bowman comfortably out in front in the early stage of the race.
Figures seen by Jewish News suggest 50 per cent of deputies who have said they have already made up their minds as to who they want to succeed out-going president Marie van der Zyl believe current vice-president Bowman, the deputy for Hampstead Synagogue the best option.
According to the unofficial figures, based on responses from around 140 of the 280 deputies who sit on the Board, Phil Rosenberg, who represents Brondesbury United Synagogue and had previously worked for the communal organisation, currently has the support of around 25 per cent deputies who have made up their minds on who to vote for.
The remaining two contenders Michael Ziff, the deputy for Maccabi GB and current Board treasurer, and Sheila Gewolb, a former vice-president and Cardiff United Synagogue representative are both currently attracting around 12.5 per cent of support.
Sources close to Bowman’s campaign team are believed to have informed her of the optimistic data predication for the May 12 election result.
“It looks like it’s Amanda’s race to lose at the moment,” said one source. “But it’s very early days in the campaign.”
Meanwhile a source close to Rosenberg’s campaign said:”On the numbers we have, we remain confident that we are ahead.
“Our data would suggest these notably round numbers represent nothing more than wishful thinking with a supposed ‘leak’ suspiciously timed to give Amanda’s campaign an artificial boost as we enter the hustings phase of the election.
“That said, perhaps unlike others, we do not trade in fantasy or a sense of entitlement.
“We are taking nothing for granted and will be fighting for every vote.”
Jewish News understands no candidate is ruling out their chance of being voted president by Deputies in the election yet.
A source close to another candidate told Jewish News:”Let’s see where we are in six weeks time before jumping to any conclusions.”
Current president van der Zyl will step down in June after serving a maximum two three-year terms in succession.
Board of Deputies hustings start on Thursday .
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