Hizzoner

The mayoralty of Teaneck is not often confused with a position of great power. However, the largely ceremonial position, which Elie Katz captured on Saturday by a 6-1 vote of the Council, can serve as a bully pulpit for Township affairs. Historically, the Mayor has had the ability to set the agenda for municipal government, even if marching orders are only issued by the consensus of the Council, which itself generally seeks to act in concert with public opinion.

It is therefore worth examining the statements Mayor Katz made to the Record after his selection for clues as to the direction in which he hopes to steer Teaneck over the coming years.

"I look to a future that we can create and build upon," Katz said. "We have a unique opportunity to increase revenue to our town through new development."

Katz also pledged to help make municipal government more "user friendly" for residents, businesses and township employees.

This is not mere boilerplate. While many Council candidates, both victorious and defeated, made similar comments during the election season, contrast Katz's comments to those of the newly elected deputy mayor, Lizette Parker.

"I look forward to working with the council to put forth an agenda that will help the residents of Teaneck by improving services, bringing ratables to town and bridging the divides that fall within our community," Parker said.

Contrast them again with what outgoing Mayor Jacqueline Kates told the Record about her objectives just prior to her installation as Mayor in 2002.

"Kates said she is looking forward to shepherding the township's new master plan, which guides land-use decisions. She said she also would focus on improving relations between different groups in town, and would encourage the public to participate in a townwide 'visioning process' that will result in guidelines for future policy" (Teaneck mayor passing the baton; Backs a colleague as his successor, Bergen Record, June 4, 2002).

Katz is signalling that he intends to take a pragmatic approach to governing Teaneck, focusing on hard issues like the homeowner tax burden and governmental red-tape rather than wading into the murky waters of "uniting the community" and other areas in which success is impossible to measure and government has little to contribute. Since Katz is a popular figure with broad appeal and a well-deserved reputation as an advocate for all of Teaneck, some residents may be disappointed that Katz does not intend to use his position to
influence intracommunity relations. Others will be justifiably pleased that a man who has substantial experience in both the realms of policy and politics has chosen the former to be the centerpiece of his first term in office.