Election season is upon us, and it is critical that we make the right decision when we cast our ballots.

As a proud Jew who supports Israel, I was glad that Michael Pagan came out in support of Teaneck’s Jewish community after the atrocities of October 7, but we can’t forget who he really is.

At the council reorganization meeting in January of last year, after stating he would support Mark Schwartz for mayor, Pagan made a backroom deal with the Rise candidates to become mayor. He not only stabbed Mark—with whom he ran and who was a driving force in helping Pagan to get elected—in the back, but he did so while publicly humiliating Mark in front of his family, friends and the entire township.

Pagan then did further damage by following Danielle Gee and Denise Belcher’s orders and removing Mark as the council liaison to the planning board, replacing him with his Rise ally, Belcher. Then, after committing to Mark that he would be the mayor’s representative to the planning board, Pagan took the seat for himself, leading to a reorganization of the planning board by removing Joey Bodner as chairman and stacking the leadership of the board with Belcher and Gee’s minions. Even worse, Pagan voted in favor of the removal of several experienced members— all of whom are members of Teaneck’s Orthodox community—from both the board of adjustment and the planning board.

This year, under Pagan’s watch, we experienced our first tax increase in eight years. Further, we have seen no new sources of revenue, which will burden us with another significant tax increase next year.

Don’t forget who Michael Pagan really is. It’s time to elect a new mayor!

Dr. Ben Kerschenbaum

Teaneck