George Backer Named to City Council by Labor Party; Formal Election Set for Tuesday

George Backer, real estate operator and leader in Jewish communal activities, was selected today as an American Labor Party member of the City Council to serve the remaining year of the late B. C. Ladeck’s two-year term.

Mr. Backer, whose designation was decided upon by the A.L.P. State Executive Committee last night, will not receive the requisite approval of the City Council until next Tuesday, but this is only a formality for his was the only name submitted today to the Council’s Committee on Privileges and Elections. Under the city charter, the council fills vacancies caused by death from the party and borough of the deceased member. In a resolution read to the council by the clerk this afternoon, Mr. Backer was described as eminently fitted and qualified and his election was urged upon the council.

Labor Party leaders expect Mr. Backer to succeed Mr. Vladeck as spokesman for the party’s five members, and also hope that he may be able to replace him as spokesman for the Labor-Republican coalition. Mr. Backer, who is 36, made his debut in politics in 1937 when he ran unsuccessfully as A.L.P. candidate for Representative in the Seventeenth district., for which post he again ran this year.

Despite his new position, Mr. Backer will continue his many Jewish and civic activities. He is president of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, vice-chairman of the Joint Distribution Committee, chairman of the sponsoring committee of the World’s Fair Palestine Pavilion, a director of the American Arbitration Association and a member of the State Minimum Wage Board for the Laundry Industry.

Born in New York Jan. 18, 1902, Mr. Backer was educated at the University of Pennsylvania, then entered his father’s real estate business. He is a staunch New Dealer and a friend of President Roosevelt.