Candidate Profiles: Town voters have choices to make

By Howard Prosnitz, Staff Writer

Teaneck Suburbanite, April 26, 2006, p. 4

Township voters have a choice among 14 candidates running for 4 three-year terms and three candidates running for a two-year unexpired term.

Long term Councilman Paul Ostrow is not seeking reelection, nor is Councilman Emil "Yitz" Stern.

Councilman Randall Day, who was appointed in January to fill the remainder of former Councilman Michael Gallucci's term following Gallucci's resignation, is not seeking reelection. But Councilman David Langford, appointed in January following the resignation of former Councilwomen Deborah Veach, is seeking reelection to fill the two unexpired years of Veach's term.

The Teaneck Suburbanite is publishing interviews with candidates in two alphabetical parts. The interviews will continue next week.

(Only the relevant candidate is shown here)

Adam Gussen

Teaneck native Adam Gussen, 32, of East Terrace Circle is a 1991 graduate of Teaneck High School. Gussen, attended Rutgers from 1991 graduate of Teaneck High School. Gussen attended Rutgers from 1991-95 on a football scholarship. He is director of sales for a corporation.

Gussen served on the board of directors of the Greater Atlantic City Junior Chamber of Commerce in 1999 and is currently vice-president of the board of directors of the Teaneck Gardens Owners Corporation.

"The first issue that comes to mind in Teaneck is taxes," said Gussen.

Gussen seeks to control taxes while at the same time improving municipal services.

To accomplish this, he wants to promote responsible development "that respects and maintains the residential character of Teaneck."

"There is property that can be developed that will help everyone shoulder a smaller burden," said Gussen.

In his capacity as vice president of Teaneck Gardens, the condos off State Street and Queen Anne Road, Gussen noted he works with a budget of more than $1.5 million.

"I am involved in protecting the interests of owners and renters in the township's largest housing development," said Gussen.

He also wants to work at improving the relationship between the township's management and the police, fire and public works departments.

He noted that the council has spent more than $6 million in legal fees relating to lawsuits brought by township employees, including a seven-figure settlement in one case.

"The special investigative committee that the council has formed to address these issues, while commendable, comes eight years too late. The council has tried to avoid this issue as long as possible."