Meet Wayne Mayoral Candidate Don Pavlak

WAYNE, NJ — With Election Day approaching, Patch is putting together a series of candidate profiles so readers can learn more about who’s on their ballot.

Donald Pavlak is the current Wayne Board of Education president, who is throwing his hat in the ring to be Wayne’s mayor.

Wayne Patch asked candidates to share some information about themselves, and asked identical questions to all candidates.

See Pavlak's responses below:

• Full Name: Donald Pavlak Jr
• Age: 64 Years old
• Town Of Residence: Wayne NJ
• Position Sought: Mayor
• Political Affiliation: Democrat
• Family: Wife Barbara, daughters Samantha and Katie
• Education: E.Ds. Leadership, MA Criminal Justice, MA, Human Resource Management, BS Criminal Justice, BA Education
• Occupation: Adjunct Professor/ Teacher
• Previous or current elected appointed office: Wayne Board of Education

1. Why are you running for this position?

I am running for mayor because I care deeply about Wayne and its future. My family has been part of this community for more than 80 years, and Wayne has always been home. My father, Don Pavlak Sr., proudly served as Chief of Police here, and through his example, I learned the true meaning of public service, integrity, and commitment to community. Those same values have guided me throughout my own 34-year career in law enforcement and a lifetime of dedication to the people of Wayne.

Over the years, I have watched this town grow and change, but lately I have become increasingly concerned about the direction we are heading. Unchecked development is putting real pressure on our neighborhoods, schools, and infrastructure. Too often, decisions are being driven by outside interests rather than what is best for our residents.

I am running to restore balance, accountability, and common sense to local government to make sure Wayne’s future reflects the priorities of its people. This campaign is not about political parties, it is about protecting our town, supporting our schools and small businesses, and preserving the quality of life that makes Wayne such a special place to live. Wayne is at a crossroads. I am running for mayor to honor my family’s legacy of service, to protect the town we love, and to make sure future generations can be as proud to call Wayne home as I am.

2. What do you believe to be the most pressing issue in the community, and what do you intend to do about it if elected?

How are you going to keep the town that we all know and love? I am going to keep the town we all know and love by restoring leadership that plans ahead, listens to residents, and puts Wayne’s people before politics or developers. For too long, this administration has been reactive instead of proactive approving overdevelopment, ignoring infrastructure needs, and leaving our community services overstretched. We are now seeing the effects: more congestion, greater demands for public safety, and volunteer departments pushed the brink.

Wayne has always been defined by its sense of community and service. Our volunteer firefighters and first aid squad members are the backbone of this town — neighbors helping neighbors. But as the demands on them grow due to unchecked development, they are being stretched to their limits. To support them, I will implement a stipend program to help retain and attract volunteers, giving them the resources they deserve, so they do not have to juggle multiple jobs just to serve. Their service is their job, and it should be valued as such. At the same time, I will ensure that our growth is responsible and planned not dictated by developers or court mandates. We will bring in professional planners who think creatively and partner with Passaic County and the State of New Jersey to develop solutions that meet housing obligations without overburdening our town. I will work closely with the Board of Education and county officials to share services, strengthen infrastructure, and stabilize taxes.

Most importantly, I will give residents a real voice in shaping the future of our town. Through transparency, open communication, and community forums, we will make sure that every major decision reflects what the people of Wayne want and need.

Wayne is more than just a town; it is a family. I have lived here my entire life, and my family has served this community for more than 80 years. My promise as mayor is to protect the Wayne we know and love to preserve its small-town character, strengthen its services, and make sure it remains a great place to live, work, and raise a family for generations to come.

3. What qualifications and qualities do you possess that make you best suited for the position?

My qualifications to serve as mayor come from a lifetime of dedication to public service, leadership, and commitment to the people of Wayne. I have spent my entire life here, and I have devoted my career to protecting and improving this community.

For 34 years, I proudly served as a member of the Wayne Police Department, where I learned firsthand what leadership, accountability, and service truly mean. My time in law enforcement
taught me to stay calm under pressure, make critical decisions based on facts, and always put the
safety and well-being of our residents first. I have worked through emergencies, major incidents, and times of crisis — experiences that shaped my belief that leadership is about responsibility, not rhetoric.

In addition to my police service, I have had the honor of serving as President of the Wayne Board of Education and member of 20 years, where I have been entrusted with overseeing one of the largest school districts in New Jersey. In that role, I have managed multi-million-dollar budgets, worked with administrators and teachers to ensure academic excellence, and made tough financial decisions while protecting taxpayers. Leading the Board of Education has given me invaluable experience in governance, budgeting, policy, and collaboration — the same skills needed to effectively lead our town.

My educational background, combined with my decades of practical leadership, has given me the ability to think critically, plan strategically, and work effectively with others. I understand how local government functions — from public safety and infrastructure to budgeting and community engagement — and I know how to bring people together to get things done. But beyond titles and experience, what qualifies me to serve as mayor are the qualities that define my leadership: honesty, integrity, accountability, and genuine love for this community.

My family has called Wayne home for over 80 years. My father served as Chief of Police, and he
taught me that leadership is not about power, it is about service. That same philosophy has
guided my entire life.

As mayor, I will bring the same commitment, discipline, and sense of duty that I have shown throughout my career. I will be a full-time mayor who listens, plans ahead, and puts people before politics. I will work tirelessly to protect the Wayne we love, ensuring responsible growth, fiscal stability, and strong community partnerships that move us forward together.

4. If you are running against an incumbent, where do you believe they are lacking in serving the community? And 5. Overdevelopment has been a growing concern throughout NJ. How do you intend to address it in your community? (Pavlak answered these questions together.)

The current administration has failed Wayne by leading without vision, without planning, and without accountability. For two decades, their approach has been reactive instead of proactive —
waiting for problems to explode rather than preventing them. Whether it is affordable housing,
infrastructure, or taxes, their plan has been to stall, sue, and spend millions of taxpayer dollars on
attorneys instead of finding real solutions.

Their lack of foresight has touched every part of our community. Our infrastructure is aging; our
volunteer first aid and fire departments are pushed to the limit, and residents are paying more while getting less. Garbage collection costs have risen by more than 30%, and the administration’s only “plan” is to keep renewing the same vendor contract with no competition or long-term strategy. That is not leadership; it is fiscal negligence.

As mayor, I will take a different approach. We will explore alternatives to reduce costs, including modernizing our garbage collection system by using one-person trucks similar to the systems in Nutley and other towns. This approach can lower expenses, reduce worker injuries, and save taxpayers money while maintaining quality service. Every contract in Wayne should be competitive, efficient, and transparent, not automatically handed to the same vendor year after year.

The same lack of planning applies to affordable housing. The state gave Wayne a mandate for 528 affordable units, not 3,000. But because of poor planning and bad decisions, the administration turned a manageable task into a massive overdevelopment crisis that will overwhelm our roads, schools, and public services. It even took them 18 years to realize the town already owned land that could have been used for housing. That is not planning, that is incompetent.

While other towns like Pompton Lakes and Bloomingdale are working with the state, Passaic County, and housing partners to create smart, community-based projects for seniors and veterans, Wayne’s leadership has chosen lawsuits over leadership and isolation over collaboration.

As mayor, I will bring an entirely new approach. I will work collaboratively with the Wayne Board of Education, Passaic County, and the State of New Jersey to expand shared services, strengthen infrastructure, and stabilize property taxes. I will bring in professional planners who think creatively and make sure residents have a real voice in shaping Wayne’s future. Wayne deserves leadership that plans ahead, spends responsibly, and works together to protect our town. After 20 years of waste, overdevelopment, and excuses, it is time to replace reactive government with real leadership and a clear plan.

6. In a few words, what is your favorite thing about your community?

How are you going to keep the town that we all know and love? I am going to keep the town we all know and love by restoring common sense, accountability, and real planning to how Wayne is running. For too long, decisions have been made behind closed doors, reacting to problems instead of planning them. That approach has led to overdevelopment, rising costs, and frustration among residents who feel like their voices are not being heard.

My goal as mayor is to protect Wayne’s character while planning responsibly for its future. That starts with ending the cycle of overdevelopment and making sure growth happens on Wayne’s terms — not at the demand of developers or the courts. We will bring in professional planners who think creatively and partner with Passaic County, the State of New Jersey, and local experts to create solutions that make sense for our town.

I will work to preserve open space, strengthen our infrastructure, and support our volunteer first
aid and fire departments, who are the heart of this community. We will make smart investments
in public safety and local businesses while keeping our neighborhoods safe, family-friendly, and
true to Wayne’s small-town values.

Most importantly, I will make sure residents have a real voice in shaping Wayne’s future. Through open meetings, community input, and transparency, residents not outside developers will help guide the decisions that affect our town. Wayne is special because of its people, its neighborhoods, and its sense of community. My promise is simple: I will fight every day to protect the Wayne we know and love, while planning responsibly to ensure it remains a great place to live, work, and raise a family for generations to come.

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Election Day is Tuesday.

If you are running for mayor in Wayne Township and did not receive a candidate profile request email, please reach out to jack.slocum@patch.com.