The Record from Hackensack, New Jersey • 95

JVjy Ini II Inl gjjlglniQls If SjteQ THE SUNDAY RECORD A CLOSE-UP LOOK AT OUR REGION NOVEMBER 5, 1 995 NJ-1 ii ii i mmmmmm'mmmmim of old-style Democratic politics. In return, Zisa and Weinberg are painting their Republican opponents as extreme right-wingers. The three-year-old New Jersey Conservative Party is hoping to make some inroads, too. Sixty candidates from the fledgling party inspired by Ross Perot form the largest independent insurgency in the state's modern political history. Few, if any, of those underfunded candidates are given any real chance to win, though.

Polls open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. Passaic County, represented by William J. Pascrell D-Paterson, and Donald Hayden, R-Paterson. Also running this year are Democrat Alfred Steele and Republican Dennis Gonzalez.

More than $500,000 had been spent by the end of October, with the Democrats outspend-ing the Republicans by a 2-1 ratio. Another of the more hotly contested races is in Bergen County's 37th District, where Republicans John McCann and Howard Williams are hoping to unseat incumbents Loretta Weinberg of Teaneck and Charles "Ken" Zisa of Hackensack by depicting them as part inroads in the Republicans' 53-27 advantage in the Assembly; the GOP also holds a 24-16 edge in the state Senate. An Eagleton poll in September found that 32 percent of voters rated the Legislature's performance "excellent" or "good" far lower than Governor Whitman's 53 percent approval rating, but still considered respectable. Political observers say that perhaps 10 of the 40 legislative districts will feature competitive races. Most of those are split districts, with one Democratic and one Republican Assembly member.

Among them is the 35th District in By The Record's staff One of the quieter election seasons in recent memory will conclude Tuesday when voters go to the polls to elect all 80 members of the state Assembly, as well as a host of municipal officials. Republicans will be seeking to retain their veto-proof majority in the Legislature's lower house, while Democrats will be trying to post some gains in an off-year election the first time since 1979 that Assembly races have been at the top of the ticket in New Jersey. But Democratic leaders acknowledge that they don't expect to make any major Av BERGENFIELD rw- Arv TEANECK I RINGW00D X. B0G0TAWV LE0NIA uauuau RIDGEFIELD Fcc FfW WASHINGTON LAKES rTv TOWNSHIP Td PARK CAin rawMl W. For the second time in two years, vandals desecrated tombstones in a Jewish cemetery in Saddle Brook, spray-painting "Hitler is God" on the grave of a war veteran and scrawling blood-red swastikas, "Kill Jews," and satanic slogans on 18 others.

The scene was chillingly reminiscent of a 1993 Rosh Ha-shana attack in which more than 100 tombstones were vandalized at Passaic Junction Cemetery. Saying that nothing "legally improper" was done, the Engle-wood City Council has adopted sweeping changes in the way it will negotiate termination benefits for top-level municipal employees. The changes approved Wednesday night resulted from an audit by the city's accounting firm, DeLoitte Touche, which found that the city sweetened the severance packages of former Welfare Director James Pleasant and former Public Works Supervisor Chuck Hampton Jr. by paying off personal pension and credit union loans. More than 1,300 mourners from around the country attended funerals Thursday for two Hackensack men killed in an automobile accident in New York City.

Curtis Van Whiting, 23, and Jerome Christopher Stancil, 21, died the previous weekend when their vehicle jumped the curb on the Henry Hudson Parkway. Two others who were in the car remained in critical condition in a Manhattan hospital. Ridgewood Postmaster Earl Alston testified in Superior Court that former postal worker Joseph Harris had a history of disciplinary problems at the Ridgewood post office before a 1991 rampage that left four people dead. Alston cataloged how Harris' threats, disruptions, and "continued combative attitude" led his supervisors to issue five disciplinary letters of warning and order three suspensions and four "fitness for duty exams" from December 1983 until they began to seek his dismissal in 1990. All the hard work, hours of study, and costly tutoring for the Oct.

22 college entrance exams could not have prepared thousands of high school students for the surprise that awaited them on test day. The Scholastic Assessment Test was identical to one administered April 2, and as many as 100 of their fellow test-takers had already seen it. The Educational Testing Service of Princeton, which administers the exam, said it was no accident. The service sometimes reuses exams to keep the cost affordable, said Ray Nicosia, head of test security for the service. Twelve of the 15 people aboard a work-bound van were injured Wednesday morning when the vehicle had a blowout and crashed into a utility pole on Passaic Avenue in Has-brouck Heights.

The van, a 15-passenger model loaded with day laborers, was destroyed in the 6:30 a.m. crash, police said. Exasperated commuters who use Bergen County's tangle of jampacked roads may have several new transit options in the future, including ferry service from Edgewater and trolleys that would relieve pressure on North Jersey's choke points, including Routes 80, 4, and 46. Bergen County Executive William "Pat" Schuber said the proposal would cost less than $1 billion and come to fruition by the year 2000. Investigators launched a manhunt for a suspect who viciously attacked two senior citizens during separate robbery attempts in Elmwood Park and Washington Township, law enforcement officials said Tuesday.

Evidence gathered by police shows that one person is responsible for both attacks. ing how to fund it; heighten emphasis on family health issues, including programs to help preschool children. Quote: "I think that we should stop kidding people that we are returning money to them in terms of income tax reductions and a penny off their sales tax. The towns that we represent were particularly hard-hit by the GOP tax package $11 million lost in state aid for the nine towns in the district." 'IwMbllcans John McCann Address: Washington Avenue, Fort Lee Age: 35 Education: City College of New York, Queens, part-time law student; Pace University, bachelor's degree; University of Pennsylvania, master's degree in government administration and finance and public policy Occupation: Owns Sales-mark, Fort Lee management consulting company Family: Wife, Sharon, who is pregnant with their first child Pastpresent elected office: None Other politicalcivic experience: Fort Lee Cable Committee; Fort Lee Historic Landmark Committee; member of Unico; member of finance committee for presidential campaign of Sen. Arlen Specter, worked for Specter on fellowship.

Top three issues: Being a full-time assemblyman; proposes a 2 percent cap on increase in municipal budgets; proposes a state tax break for developers who build certain types of senior citizen housing. Quote: "The Democrats don't have any ideas. They say in this district, "Vote for me because I'm a But I believe politics is getting beyond that that if you are going to provide solutions for problems, you need people in government who have solutions, not just complain." Howard Williams Address: Passaic Street, Hackensack Age: 65 Education: Hackensack High School; Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte, N.C., bachelor's degree in sociology Occupation: Retired as chief probation officer in 1994 after 30 years in the Bergen County Probation Department Family: Wife, Gloria; children Howard 37, and Rhonda, 35 Pastpresent elected office: President and member of Hackensack school board for 15 years Other politicalcivic experience: Former president of Bergen County Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; member of Elks Club of Hackensack. Top three issues: Supports McCann's plan for a 2 percent cap on the increase in municipal budgets; wants to reduce crime; advocates tax breaks for companies with more than 100 or 200 people to encourage businesses to move into the state.

Quote: "I don't see how the taxpayers are going to tolerate Assemblyman Charles Zisa having two jobs. He's making around $70,000 as a police chief and $35,000 as a legislator. He only would be a part-time Continued on Page NJ-2 36th DISTRICT Democrats John W. Kelly Address: Frederick Street, Belleville Age: 37 Education: master's degree in public administration, Kean College, 1984; bachelor's degree in finance and public administration, Kean College, 1980. Occupation: chief financial officer, city of Orange.

Family: single Pastpresent elected offices: none Other politicalcivic experience: former member of the Belleville Board of Adjustment, member of the government Finance Officers Association, the International City Managers Association, and the Tax Collectors and Treasurers Association. Top three issues: binding arbitration reform, property tax relief, environment. Quote: "I'm running because we will see the $100,000 police officer by the year 2000." Richard Potter Address: Prospect Terrace, East Ruthertord Age: 39 Education: bachelor's degree, St. Peter's College, 1978; law degree, Kutgers Law School, Newark, 1987. Occupation: partner in the law firm of Lesnevich Marzano-Lesnevich, Tenafly.

Family: wife, Mary; and two daughters, Emily, 18, and Sarah. 14. Pastpresent elected offices: East Rutherford Bor- ough Council, 1983-89. Other political and civic experience: East Rutherford Democratic municipal chairman, 1990 to present; Ruther ford rent board attorney, 1990-91; public defender, Wood-Ridge, 1988-89; Bergenfield Planning Board attorney, 1990-91. Top three issues: property taxes, environment, binding arbitration reform.

Quote: "The incumbents have sold out to special-interest groups. Their environmental record is a sellout." Republicans Paul DiGaetano Address: Henderson Street, Passaic HAge: 42 Education: Notre Dame University, degree in aerospace engineering, 1965. Occupation: builder and developer, J. DiGaetano and Sons Inc. Family: wife, Yvonne; and two sons, Joseph, 8, and Paul 5.

Pastpresent elected offices: Passaic City Council, 1981 to present; elected to the Assembly in 1981, served one term and reelected in 1991 and 1993. Other politicalcivic expe rience: member ot Passaic Lions Club and Unico, active in National Italian-American Sports Hall of Fame. Top three issues: taxes, economic development, streamlining environmental regulations. Quote: "To turn New Jersey on, we need to generate middle-and high-paying jobs." John V. Kelly Address: Wayne Place, Nutley LEG I SLAT DISTRICTS RUTHERFORD NUTLEY V's v.

'(. NORTH X-. ARLINGTON Age: 69 Education: graduate of St. Peter's College, 1951. Occupation: retired president of Nutley Savings and Loan Association.

Family: wife, Elizabeth; two sons, Joseph, 37, and John 35; and two daughters, Regina, 41, and Renee, 31. Pastpresent elected offices: Nutley Township Commission member; elected to the Assembly in 1981, served one term and was reelected in 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991, and 1993. Other politicalcivic experience: board of directors, Association for Retarded Children; member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Knights of Columbus, Nutley. Top three issues: housing, taxes, economic development. Quote: "For old cities to be rehabilitated, streets have to be safe and there has to be shopping and good schools.

It's not something that can done by putting up housing alone." Independents iHHMttiMiMwM Andrew M. Bloschak Address: Greylock Parkway, Belleville Age: 46 Education: associate's degree in electronics, RC Institute, New York. Occupation: electrician, General Motors Linden. Family: wife, Susan; a son, Richard, and two daughters, Kristin, 9, and Stephanie, 1. Pastpresent elected offices: none Other political civic experience: president, Public Watchdog of New Jersey; member, Knights of Columbus, Belleville.

Top three issues: campaign finance reform, initiative and referendum, state spending. Quote: "The average citizen only makes so much money a week. If we can't overspend, why should government be able to? It's not a bottomless pit." Vincent J. Frantantonl Address: Mount Prospect Avenue, Belleville MILFORD I PASSAIC 1 WA1LINGT0N 1VE i i east RUTHERFORD formula with effort to determine a school curriculum to provide a thorough and efficient education and the funding needed to sustain it; wants greater emphasis on crime prevention and rehabilitation. Quote: "I have worked very hard in my first term to justify the voters' confidence in me, and I think I've been successful in that.

I have stood up for the middle class, those in our state who need certain types of assistance, senior citizens, the environment, and there aren't too many of us left who care about those things." Loretta Weinberg Address: Queen Anne Road, Teaneck HAge: 60 Education: University of California, bachelor's degree in history and political science; Fairleigh Dickinson University, attended classes for master's degree in public education Occupation: Assemblywoman; former assistant administrator in county government Family: Husband, Irwin; children Francine, 31, and Daniel, 32 Pastpresent elected offices: Teaneck councilwoman 1990 to 1994; appointed to fill vacant Assembly seat in 1992, elected to the seat in 1992 and 1993. Other politicalcivic experience: Member of American Red Cross Advisory Board, Northern Valley Chapter; affiliate board member of American Heart Association; member Senior Advisory Board of Teaneck township; member and program chairwoman, American Association of Retired Persons, Teaneck chapter; member National Council of Jewish Women; member New Jersey Network of Women Elected Officials; former board member of Shelter Our Sisters, a residence for victims of domestic violence; active in various pro-choice organizations. Top three issues: Wants to seek ways to increase aid to property tax payers; reevaluate funding of schools by creating a core curriculum and determin- Age: 56 Education: Westside High School, Newark, 1957; attended Newark College of Engineering. Occupation: self-employed general contractor Family: wife, Phyllis; two sons, Vinny, 22, and Anthony, 17; and a daughter, Phyllis Ann, 11. Pastpresent elected offices: elected in 1987 to a three-year term on the Belleville Township Commission.

Other politicalcivic experience: director and vice president, Belleville Chamber of Commerce; director, Belleville Revitalization Committee; president, Concerned Citizens of Belleville. Top three issues: initiative and referendum, state mandate-state pay, repeal of binding arbitration. Quote: "We keep getting promises from our legislators but when they get down to Trenton, that's the last we hear from them." 37th DISTRICT emocrats Charles "Ken" Zisa Address: Hackensack Age: 41 Education: Hackensack High School; Bergen County Police Academy Occupation: Acting police chief, Hackensack Family: Wife, Mary; children Anthony, 13, and Kristen, 11 Pastpresent elected offices: Elected to Assembly, November 1993 Other politicalcivic experience: Former member of the Bergen County Youth Services Commission; Bergen County Vocational Technical School Substance Abuse Advisory Board; president of Bergen County Juvenile Officers Association. Top three issues: Wants to shift reliance away from property taxes and would tax wealthy and large corporations; wants reevaluation of funding.