Elie Katz is inviting community members to a campaign kickoff on Thursday, March 15, at Dougie’s BBQ, 184 West Englewood Avenue in Teaneck, from 6:15 to 9:15 pm. Guests will be treated to a scotch and wine tasting as well as a buffet dinner. The event will be attended by dignitaries and local council members, including New Jersey Assemblyman and former Passaic Mayor Gary Schaer, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich and Teaneck Mayor Mohammed Hameeduddin. This is an ideal opportunity for people to meet Katz, and to learn more about some of his goals for the township should he be re-elected as Teaneck Mayor.
Over the last 20 years, Katz has been a prominent figure on the political circuit in Teaneck. Having served eight years as Teaneck mayor/deputy mayor, and 20 years on the Teaneck township council, his accomplishments include millions of dollars in new revenue through responsible development as well as a 0 percent municipal tax increase for three straight years. Over his tenure, Katz has implemented policies, sponsored new enterprises and improved the overall quality of life for Teaneck residents. Katz is credited with creating affordable housing for seniors and helping to form Friends of Teaneck Seniors. Having spent the last two decades dedicated to the people of Teaneck, he is no doubt the go-to person when residents have a problem. In fact, Katz said he receives close to 400 phone calls annually from people who have concerns or issues to discuss.
Katz is excited to welcome honored guests to support his campaign kickoff. Gary Schaer has served in the New Jersey General Assembly since January 2006. A former Passaic mayor, Schaer currently represents the 36th Legislative District and is also New Jersey city council president. Assemblyman Schaer has become known for his support on a number of issues, including advocating for greater assistance for children, adults and families with autism and developmental disabilities, in addition to property tax relief and bringing increased fiscal responsibility to New Jersey’s budget.
Ras Baraka, mayor of Newark, was previously a member of the municipal council of Newark and the principal of the city’s Central High School. Baraka was sworn in as mayor in 2014 for a four-year term and is seeking reelection in the 2018 mayoral race.
Mark Sokolich, a managing partner in the law firm he founded and the current mayor of Fort Lee, is expected to join Katz at this event. Sokolich most recently made headlines during the Bridgegate scandal, in which Governor Christie’s staff was accused of conspiring to close lanes to the George Washington Bridge, causing traffic build-ups on the streets of Fort Lee. It was speculated that this was a retribution attack on Sokolich, a Democrat who had not supported Christie as a candidate in the 2013 New Jersey gubernatorial election.
Current Teaneck Mayor Mohammed Hameeduddin will be there to support Katz, his long-time colleague and friend. Hameeduddin originally served as mayor from 2010-2014. After the untimely death of Mayor Lizette Parker in 2016, Hameeduddin was re-elected by the Teaneck council. Hameeduddin and Katz have worked closely through the years on the council and have supported one another in their combined mission to enhance life in Teaneck.
“I have always admired Elie Katz’s ability to respond to and follow through constituent services,” said Hameeduddin. Having worked side by side for many years, the mayor believes Katz is by far the person who residents contact most with quality-of-life issues. He describes Katz as a tireless advocate for the citizens of Teaneck. Katz also works well in finding common ground with a diverse council, which results in a more proficient leadership. “Elie Katz has always been the gold standard of what it means to be a public servant,” expressed Hameeduddin.
As he looks ahead to the next four years, Katz hopes to revitalize the community through appropriate development while at the same time making sure taxes don’t increase and premium services remain a core priority. Katz believes the solution is transparent. “We can’t spend money we don’t have, so we must make every effort to control the budget and increase revenue,” he articulated. For Katz this has been his ambition since he became involved in the Teaneck council long ago. For the past 15 years, he has been responsible for spearheading every new revenue opportunity for the township. Katz commends his colleagues for their hard work and dedication and believes much of his success is due in part to those he has been privileged to work with. “This is not a one-man job,” Katz expressed. “When we work as a team the results are impressive.”
Elie Katz does not just love Teaneck; he embodies Teaneck. A lifetime member of the Teaneck Volunteer Ambulance Corps, member of the Teaneck Advisory Board on Community Relations and co-founder of the Teaneck Helping Hands Food Pantry are just a few of the many roles Katz has played over the last two decades. To keep Teaneck moving in the right direction, please come out and support Katz as he kicks off his election campaign on March 15. For more information, please contact Elie Katz at 201-715-5179 or email him at [email protected].
By Andrea Nissel
