The annual New Jersey Globe Power 100 list is out, ranking the most powerful political figures in the Garden State for 2023. On the list is one of the more familiar names in the Lakewood region: Agudah NJ Director Rabbi Avi Schnall.
The Power Ranking does not list elected officials; it only considers unelected personalities who are most well connected in the New Jersey political power structure.
Unsurprisingly, the most politically powerful personality who is not an elected official is, according to the ranking, George Helmy, who is Governor Phil Murphy’s right-hand man.
Rabbi Avi Schnall was ranked the 84th most powerful political person in New Jersey, with the Globe giving just a one-line bio of why: “LAKEWOOD, INC. could easily be the most powerful political machine in New Jersey.”
Notably missing this year from the ranking was anyone from the Lakewood Vaad, a group who once wielded massive power over elections in the area, but whose influence has considerably waned over the past few years.
The full ranking can be viewed by clicking here.
The article makes it sound as if it is a good thing to be ranked.
I do not think so.