June - July 2002 Edition 

Freeholder Race   Two Fair Lawn attorneys are running for Bergen County Freeholder seats this Fall.  The Mayor is on the left.  The former Mayor is on the right.     Fair Lawn News asked both candidates the same two questions: 1. Why should Fair Lawn residents care about the Freeholder's election?  2. Why are you running for Freeholder?   David Ganz   Edward Trawinski         1. Why should Fair Lawn residents care about the Freeholder's election?  Freeholder is the County Legislature. There are but seven members, and they have significant influence over how and where Countywide services are offered and supplied.    As New Jersey's most populous county, Bergen has 70 municipalities within its ambit. Fair Lawn is the 4th largest municipality in the County and historically has not received its due measure in services, grants, or assistance. A significant portion of the Borough's taxes collected go to Bergen County; not enough comes back to the Borough.   There are those who say that involvement in local and county politics makes no difference; I disagree. Involvement is what makes Bergen County such a great place to live and raise a family. It's one of the reasons why you ought to vote for the Torricelli-Rothman-McNerney-Ganz-McPherson Democratic Team.   2. Why are you running for Freeholder? I am running for freeholder, as part of the Torricelli-Rothman-McNerney-Ganz-McPherson team because I am convinced that I can make a difference. That's what attracted me to community service in the first place.    I spent 10 years as a volunteer member of Fair Lawn's Zoning Board of Adjustment. That involved hundreds of evening meetings after my work day as a lawyer practicing in New York City, all as a volunteer. This was the pattern that I established early on, even while in college at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service, from which I graduated with a B.S. degree in 1973. In 1974, while still in law school, President Richard M. Nixon appointed me to a federal commission (I served on this, the oldest continually functioning commission in government history) as its youngest member, ever, going back to its founding in 1792.    Nearly a quarter century later, during President Bill Clinton's Administration, Treasury Secretary Lloyd Bentsen appointed me as a charter member to the 9-person Citizens Commemorative Coin Advisory Committee. While there, I fought for the creation of America's first circulating commemorative coin program, which ultimately emerged as the 50 state quarter program which thus far has returned over $5-billion to the federal Treasury and the American taxpayer. Then-U.S. mint director Philip Diehl said, ""the lion's share of the credit for making the 50 States program a reality [belongs to David L. Ganz]...for his persistence as an advocate." His successor as mint director, former Congressman Jay Johnson, called me "the father of the 50 state quarter program."    I was elected to the Council in 1997 as part of the Democratic minority. On bi-partisan basis, I worked with my colleagues to better Fair Lawn. During my tenure as Fair Lawn's Mayor (the past four years) I have been equally innovative. I found federal and state funds to re-do Memorial Pool a $1.5 million make-over at no net cost to Boro Taxpayers.   Through diligent application for state and county funding, I was able to obtain a grant to re-do the historic Radburn walkways at no cost to Borough residents. By thinking outside the box, the Council on my watch was able to institute a cooperative parking agreement on River Road; the Ambulance Corps received a brand spanking new ambulance with the Borough (who advanced the funds) being repaid from revenue from the cellular tower licensed to be on the Ambulance Corps site.    To keep repair costs down, a DPW garage  which has been spoken of, and asked for over at least a dozen years was completed (the "Bill Davidson Pavilion"); a new municipal parking lot behind the municipal building was completed. The Dobrow sports complex parking lot was repaved, as were more than 20 miles of roadway over the past four years on my watch. I can take these lessons and apply them to Bergen County.    Unlike my opponent who has studied issues to death, my administration has been a time and place of action. Watch my team do this.  Watch us enhance the quality of life in Fair Lawn and Bergen County.   1. Why should Fair Lawn residents care about the Freeholder's election?  Fair Lawn residents, in my opinion, should care very much about the Freeholder's election because the decisions made by the Freeholder Board have a direct effect on the quality of life of not only Fair Lawn residents but also all the residents of Bergen County.     For example, while on the Borough Council we were able to persuade Bergen County and the Freeholder Board to approve Community Development Grants for such items such as the handicapped parking spaces at the Fair Lawn Public Library, the complete face lift to the front of the Fair Lawn Public Library, the substantial expansion of the Fair Lawn Senior Citizen Center and the budgeting of the necessary appropriations for the improvements to the intersections of Fair Lawn Avenue and River Road, River Road and Berdan Avenue and Morlot Avenue and Plaza Road.     Having served as an advocate for the people of Fair Lawn as the Fair Lawn Planning Board Attorney and as a former Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Councilman, I am asking the people of Bergen County for the opportunity to be their advocate and representative as a member of the Freeholder Board   2. Why are you running for Freeholder? I am a candidate for Freeholder because as a lifelong Bergen County resident I would like to give something back to the County that has given so much to me and my family.  I believe that my experience, my education, my background, my training and my proven leadership will enable me to participate on a team that will continue to make Bergen County a better place in which to live and to work.     The Freeholder Board (working closely with the County Executive) as indicated above has a direct effect on the quality of life of the people of Bergen County.  As an advocate for the people of Bergen County I will work tirelessly to listen and understand their interests, their concerns and their problems;  and then I will work even harder to address them.     What questions should Fair Lawn News ask the Freeholder candidates in future editions?    Send an e- mail to editor@fairlawnnews.com     What Do You Think?: Send an e- mail to editor@fairlawnnews.com or post a message on the Fair Lawn News Discussion Forum.