The Catskill Chronicle

Story and photos by Jason Dole

JEFFERSONVILLE , NY (November 9, 2011) – Some people vote with their minds, others vote with their hearts. Some even vote with their feet. Mark Satanovski urges you to vote with your stomach.

In an election season filled with contentious races, Satanovski took a tasty, light-hearted approach to local politics. “Vote for Lunch,” said the proprietor of the Brooklyn Delicatessen. Then he hung a sign on his deli door that said the same thing.

Satanovski’s fun take on Election Day started when the election signs that pop up on front yards made their way into local stores. As Satanovski tells it, the Democrats approached him first.

“So, I put up their signs,” recalls Satanovski. “Then the other party said, ‘that’s no good, you’re supporting someone else.’ I told them, ‘if you want, you can put up your signs, too.’ I don’t care. Everyone has to be on the same level. I thought it would be cool.”

The partisans approaching  Satanovski didn’t think that would be cool, to say the least. So, the deli owner made a bold apolitical decision.

“I took everybody’s signs down, and I decided to put up my own signs.”

These signs were printed in red, white and blue, in the big bold-lettered style typical of election signs.

In addition to “Vote for Lunch,” signs on the Brooklyn Delicatessen also read “Elect— Breakfast: Egg & Cheese Sandwich, Lunch: Philly Cheesesteak.”

Satanovski’s favorites seem to be the signs that offered “Cuban Panini – $1 Off (Republicans Only)” and “Philly Cheesesteak – $1 Off (Democrats Only).”

“This is equal opportunity,” says Satanovski with a laugh. “Some people look at me pretty strange, and ask ‘are you one of the people who we have to elect?’ I tell them, ‘No. Only vote for lunch in Brooklyn Delicatessen. That’s it.”

But what if someone wants a Cuban Panini and they aren’t Republican?

“Then it’s full price,” he says. “If you want one dollar off, I have to put you on the list as a Republican. You have to be registered.”

Delivered with perfect deadpan, it takes a moment to realize that Marc Satanovski is joking. Then the hilarity gets contagious.

“No, there is no list,” he says, laughing. “People who have a sense of humor laugh. Others get a little scared.”

Satanovski has been running the deli on Main Street Jeffersonville since early July of this year. He’s brought real, first-hand Brooklyn Delicatessen experience to the venture. And, in true Brooklyn style, kicked things off with a 4^th of July hot-dog eating contest.

But he’s not about to use his deli expertise to influence your lunchtime vote. “What I say is we are beyond politics, and we are beyond the competition!”