The Ridgewood News from Ridgewood, New Jersey • 3

ii i eoplle ITD 1 jaano tan mixes law and government finds ti me tor tennis and jogging I 4 By ARTHUR FRIEDMAN WESTWOOD Elizabeth Randall knows the route between Trenton and Westwood quite well. The Assembly Majority Whip (R-Dist. 39) spends many hours travelling between the law offices of Randall, Randall, Stevens and the state capital. "I enjoy it though," she said it an interview at her Westwood law office. "Certainly my legislative duties take up a majority of my time, but I do play a little tennis and get in some jogging." Randall, born in Teaneck in 1954, is seeking her third full-term in the Assembly, having first been elected in a special election in March 1985 to fill the seat of John Markert.

"I guess you could say I took the less traditional route to the assembly, since it was my first elected office," Randall said. "I was influenced by my family in both respects (law and government)." Harry Randall, Jr. was a state assemblyman and a county Freeholder in the 1970s. Her grandfather Harry Randall, Sr. started the law firm many years ago.

"People knew of my background," Randall said. "If you don't take the opportunity when you get it you may never get it again." Randall sees the upcoming elections as one of many complex issues, with escalating property taxes and the cost of auto insurance as the two chief concerns of the electorate Randall would like to see auto insurance reform tackled immediately, but because of the gubernatorial race she doubts any actual legislation will pass before a new governor is elected. "I don't think there is one single answer," she said. "A medical fee schedule solution along the lines of the worker's compensation system will cut down on medical costs. I have been disappointed in lack of harmony between the legislature and the governor." In the area of property taxes, Randall sees it as a less complex issue than auto insurance reform.

4 4 Something is drastically wrong," she said. "The solution involves raising taxes at the state level. In the next year we will probably pass a constitutional amendment on the education funding system. "Are we really giving every pupil the same education?" Randall asks. "I think not.

We have to make the districts more equal throughout the state." Randall is a 1978 graduate of Wake Forest University School of Law. She received her BA from Smith College in 1975, after graduating from Westwood Regional High School in 1971. She currently serves as Borough Attorney in Hillsdale. She is a former municipal prosecutor of Dumont, Park Ridge and Emerson. Randall served as Special Assistant to Attorney General Irwin Kimmelman from 1983-84, and Assistant Counsel to Governor Thomas Kean in 1982-83.

Randall sees overdevelopment in her district and in the county as a serious problem. "My biggest fear is that Kinderkamack Road will become like Route 17," Randall said. "We are trying to do a couple of things like buying out a 12.8 million Norwood tract, part of which woud be saved from development. I am also supportive of Schuber's bill on the Hackensack Water Company (HWC) development property. "I am in favor of a legislation to ban ocean dumping by the end of 1990," the assemblywoman said.

"The marke place is dictating people's morality. The next governor has i') work closely with the New York governor and the federal government in halting ocean and water pollution. Randall has no prediction on the upcoming election or her political future, but does have some thoughts in that regard. "I stand on my record, but I am never complacent on any election," Randall said: "I take one election at a time, buf if I found myself in the right place I would consider a higher office." LISA RANDALL Mary Higgins Clark discusses her work if" States, she has apparently climbed rather high. She writes consistant-ly, "I work the way you go to a job, day and night when needed.

I like to wake up make coffee and get to work." She writes in her office at her Saddle River home. Mystery books and many classics line the bookshelves. Honorary Doctorate "degrees and magazine covers hang on the walls. Clark believes firmly in touring to promote her books. do a lot of autographing," she said.

In fact, she begins a 12-city tour before going to London in June." Locally, Clark will be autographing her new novel April 29 at the two Bookends shops. At 1 1 a.m. Clark will be at the West-wood shop and at 1 p.m. at the Ridgewood shop. did many interviews.

I always thought there was a story there." Clark said she has written all her life; she began her professional career writing short stories, but "the market was over in 1964;" So, she began writing radio shows. Switching to her current genre was not difficult for Clark. "I approached it like it was 20 short stories strung together," she said, adding that she plans to continue writing suspense. "I don't see anything sillier than knocking down the ladder you are climbing." With more than 15 million of her novels in print in the United States, she apparently has climbed rather high. With more than 15 million of her novels in print in the United -By CHRISTINE NUNN WESTWOOD Best-selling suspense author Mary Higgins Clark, a Saddle River resident, compares writing to a dustball.

"You get an idea; it stays with you and teases you," she explained. "It's like a dustball. It keeps gathering dust until finally it's time to write." Her new novel, "While My Pretty One Sleeps," came to fruition quickly. "It took a year," she said, "while most of my books take two." The setting of the plot, the fashion industry, is one Clark knows first-hand. "I've always wanted to include fashion because my mother was a buyer for Altmans and she knew fashion well," the author said.

"I also did a radio show about fashion and MARY HIGGINS CLARK.