Six seek four township council seats, 4 incumbents face 2 challengers

By Navid Iqbal of Suburbanite

The Teaneck Suburbanite, March 27, 2002, p. 1 & p. 85

The municipal election officially became a competition last week as all six candidates completed their nominating petitions. Tuesday, May 14, township residents will get to vote on who will fill the four available council seats.

The four incumbants who are seeking reelection this year are Paul Ostrow, Yitz Stern, Elie Y. Katz and Michael Gallucci. Two other candidates are Benjamin Dworkin and Monica Honis.

(Only the relevant candidate is shown here)

Yitz Stern

Councilman Yitz Stern said he also has an "environmental sensitivity" regarding open space throughout the township, especially in Overpeck Park. He plans on "keeping preserved" in Teaneck "areas that have not developed" and "build our tax-base on what's already developed."

Stern, 46, in Teaneck for 22 years, is running for relection "because I feel I have a lot to contribute."

"The council is a very important team in Teaneck," Stern said. "We have a strong leadership team and I'd like to be part of the team that moves Teaneck forward."

He is also interested in continuing to "revitalize" business areas in Teaneck and not just on Cedar Lane but in the Plaza area, along the Northern Teaneck Road and on Degraw Avenue.

However, one of his biggest concerns is the "increased awareness of public safety," an issue that he deals with on daily basis as the assistant to the director of the Bergen County Police and Fire Academy. Stern said would like to increase training of all public safety officials in the Teaneck.