Inna Vernikov

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Inna Vernikov
Minority Whip of the New York City Council
Assumed office
January 5, 2022
Preceded byJoe Borelli
Member of the New York City Council
from the 48th district
Assumed office
December 1, 2021
Preceded byChaim Deutsch
Personal details
Born (1984-08-30) August 30, 1984 (age 37)
Chernivtsi, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union
Political partyRepublican (2021-present)
Democratic (until 2020)
EducationBaruch College (BA)
Florida Coastal School of Law (JD)
WebsiteOfficial website

Inna Vernikov (born August 8, 1984) is a Ukrainian-American attorney and politician serving as a Member of the New York City Council for the 48th District. She is the Minority Whip of the City Council. The district includes the neighborhoods of Brighton Beach, Gravesend, Manhattan Beach, Midwood, West Brighton Beach, and Sheepshead Bay in Brooklyn.[1] Formerly a Democrat, Vernikov is a member of the Republican Party.

Early life[]

Vernikov was born in Chernivtsi, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union. She attended ORT Specialized School #41, a Ukrainian Jewish day school. As Vernikov was growing up, the living standards of the newly independent Ukraine were declining due to the dissolution of the Soviet Union; so at age 12, she immigrated to the United States with her family.

She received her undergraduate degree at Baruch College and her J.D. degree from the Florida Coastal School of Law.[citation needed]

Career[]

Vernikov served as an aide to New York State Assemblymember, Dov Hikind. Prior to running for City Council, Vernikov was an immigration and divorce attorney. She is a member of the board for both Tikva, an organization supporting Jewish orphans in Ukraine, and Americans Against Antisemitism.[2][better source needed]

New York City Council[]

A former registered Democrat, Vernikov became a Republican after seeing the rise in antisemitism and what she sees as socialism in New York City.[3] While campaigning, she stated “Jews coming from the former Soviet Union are very familiar with communism and socialism, and many of us feel strongly that what today’s Democratic Party is promoting is exactly what we ran from—a place where speech was censored, where we were not allowed to practice religion, where we didn’t have freedom or economic opportunity.”[3]

Vernikov received the support of the district's former councilman, Democrat Chaim Deutsch, and Donald Trump Jr., the son of former President Donald Trump. Vernikov was elected to the City Council after defeating the Democratic nominee Steve Saperstein. She is the first Republican to represent a portion of Brooklyn in the New York City Council since Marty Golden in 2002.[4]

As a councilwoman, Vernikov organized a rally against COVID-19 vaccine mandates in New York City outside of Gracie Mansion.[5]

References[]

  1. ^ "District 48". Inna Vernikov.
  2. ^ "About Inna Vernikov – New York Divorce & Immigration Attorney". Law Offices Of Inna Vernikov. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Fed up with socialism and anti-Semitism, attorney seeks to clean up New York City". Jewish News Syndicate. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
  4. ^ Brachfeld, Ben (November 3, 2021). "REPUBLICAN INNA VERNIKOV WINS SOUTH BROOKLYN COUNCIL SEAT AMID STRONG GOP SHOWING CITYWIDE". The Brooklyn Paper.
  5. ^ "Councilwoman Vernikov To Hold Anti-Mandate Rally". Shorefront News. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
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