Wayne Council Candidate Profiles

WAYNE, NJ – In Wayne, council races in five of the township's six wards are contested this year.

The only uncontested race is in the 6th Ward, where Republican Jonathan Ettman is running unopposed for another term.

The governing body in Wayne is comprised of nine Republican council members and a Republican mayor.

Each candidate was asked to fill out a profile in advance of Election Day for publication.

If a candidate is not included below, a profile was not submitted back to Patch.

*Denotes incumbent

Ward 1

Richard Jasterzbski (Republican)*

• Age: 57
• Years in town: 34 years
• Occupation: Business Owner Automotive Supply Wholesale
• Public offices held: 1st Ward councilman for the past six years
• Family: Married for 33 years, with two children who both attended Wayne district schools
• Community activities:
• Why are you running: Having lived in the 1st Ward for 33 years and having served as your councilman since 2013, I am well aware of the issues affecting our community. I am actively engaged with the administration in seeking all available flood mitigation resources that help protect our community from increasing flooding. I also continue to make sure property maintenance is a priority by making sure properties are maintained at a level that enhances our community. To help further protect our children I supported a number of speed reduction initiatives and introduced legislation to expand and strengthen our drug free school/park zones. In recent years as a member of the budget committee, I worked closely with the administration to help keep the municipal portion of property taxes in check. Along with you, I have an enormous sense of pride in our community and as your advocate, I will see that we continue to solidify our pride. My focus is to ensure the 1st Ward continues to be a great place to raise a family and to make sure our business community can flourish while at the same time being a good partner to our community.

Arlene Sullivan (Democrat)

• Age: Not provided
• Years in town: Almost 28 years
• Occupation: Visual and graphic arts teacher in a local high school, co-founder of an art foundation which brings color and comfort to patients, residents, families, medical staff, volunteers in hospitals, nursing homes and shelters on a world-wide basis.
• Public offices held: Board of education
• Family: I was married; I have three adult children, one of whom is happily married.
• Community activities: Since 1997, I have been the Executive Director/Artist of an art foundation I co-founded. We are involved in the design and painting process of interactive murals in local facilities, as well as facilities in other states and countries.
• Why are you running? I am running to bring respect and dignity back to the town council. At present the council works in a vacuum and shows no regard for the residents who voted to place these public servants in office. I am running to bring transparency in the workings of the town, to revive and renew the town Master Plan so we can see the big picture and stop the indiscriminate building that has been taking place. We need to make sure that development is right for the areas it is taking place. Mistakes in zoning can cause catastrophic flooding to already sensitive areas.

Ward 2

Al Sadowski (Republican)*

Diane Douthat (Democrat)

• Age:59
• Years in town: 17
• Occupation: Educator
• Public offices held: None
• Family: Married happily for 25 years to Steve, my better half, who has also served this town as the Assistant Cubmaster for Pack 104 (he is an Eagle Scout). Our son is 22 (he’s also a teacher!), and our daughter is 19, and we’re proud to say they are both graduates of the Wayne Schools!
• Community activities: My focus has been on serving the community— I have served Wayne as a Girl Scout Leader, Treasurer for the Wayne GS Service Unit, active member of the PTO’s/Wayne Valley Band Parent Association, and I’m currently an active member of the Wayne League of Women Voters. My run for the Ward 2 Town Council seat is the next step, for me, in serving my community. Also, I served for 6 years as a member of the Wayne Schools District Evaluation Advisory Committee. During my tenure, I worked with my fellow educators to stop the implementation of what would have been a very costly (for taxpayers)evaluation model. We replaced it with one that was much more cost effective (for taxpayers), and that gets the job done.
• Why are you running: Making the world a better place starts with the place where you live. My opponent has represented us since 2008, but he held his first town hall to listen to residents just this year. I went to that town hall, and asked him why he waited so long to hold such an event— he answered that he probably should have done it before. I have knocked on over 1700 doors of Democrats, Republicans, and Unaffiliated voters in my ward— I’ve also been meeting my fellow residents this summer at the Farmer’s market. I’ve listened to what they have to say, and communicated with them. They reminded me that all of us love and care about our town. Many of them also told me that they feel their elected town officials are not listening to them, or communicating with them. Since I’ve spoken with so many people in this ward, I also have a good idea of what’s important to them, and what it is they’d like me to work on, as their ward 2 trustee. As an educator, listening and communicating are vital— I couldn’t do my job without them. I will bring this same skill set with me to the dais, and I will continue to listen to and communicate with my fellow ward 2 residents by holding 2 towns halls a year! That’s why I’m running for the Ward 2 Wayne Town Council— because the people of this ward deserve better. They deserve to be represented by someone who is listening to them, and who will also communicate with them.

Ward 3

Franco Mazzei (Republican)*

• Age: Not provided
• Years in town: 13 years
• Occupation: Attorney at a Passaic boutique litigation law firm, responsible for litigating matters involving catastrophic personal injury and products liability claims.
• Public offices held: Third Ward councilman since 2012, serving as council president since January . Also served as president in 2014. Elected to the Wayne township board of education in 209, including one year as Vice President.
• Family: Married to Michele, with three boys, Luke, 12, who attends George Washington Middle School, Michael, 10, a student at Packanack Elementary School and Jon, 6, a kindergarten student at Packanack Elementary.
• Community activities: Wayne Public Library Board of Trustees from 2007 to 2011, including one year as president. President of the Passaic County Bar Association. Also served as president of the Robert L. Clifford Inn of Court - Passaic County. Members of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Packanack Lake and Packanack Lake Community Association.
• Why are you running: Our Third Ward Community shines as a beacon, highlighting all that is good in our Township. In this regard, we must strive to make improvements, where necessary, in order to protect, maintain and sustain our Community. I am committed to the goal of promoting this community setting in a fiscally responsible way, including exploring economic development that makes sense, improving utility infrastructure to lessen power outages and failures, and reviewing methods of flood curtailment/remediation, all while maintaining the ecological balance of our neighborhoods. Furthermore, as a property tax payer, I understand the importance of stabilizing property taxes and maintaining quality services provided by the Township. My experience has prepared me to work with the Mayor and Council to achieve this vital priority. Please vote for me on November 5th, Franco Mazzei, to continue to serve as your Third Ward Councilman.

Karen Dowicz Haas (Democrat)

• Age: 58
• Years in town: About 30 years
• Occupation: Award winning writer of humorous short stories for children and an optioned screenwriter.
• Public offices held: None
• Family: I’m married to my best friend, Bruce Haas, and we have three children who all went to Packanack Elementary and Anthony Wayne Middle school. The two older ones graduated from Wayne Valley. The youngest graduated from Delbarton High School in Morristown. My daughter, Kirstin, 30, now lives in Washington DC where she is on the promotion list for Lieutenant Commander in the Coast Guard. Charles, 28, is an MBA candidate in the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. Robert, 26, works as a copywriter specializing in healthcare for an advertising agency. He commutes to NYC from Jersey City.
• Community activities: Like most mothers do, I’ve helped out wherever and whenever I could, in various capacities of many different community activities, mostly the ones centered around my children. I’ve been a Field Hockey Mom, a Library Mom, a Girl Scout Leader, a Vacation Bible School teacher and a Sunday School teacher. I’m also a past president and current board member of United Givers of Packanack. In the fall of 2018 I helped ring doorbells and make phone calls for Mikie Sherrill when she ran for Congress. That’s when I discovered how much I enjoy talking with people about the issues that concern them. I’ve been going door- to-door almost daily since late August as well, but this time I’m the candidate.
• Why are you running: I love Wayne and I want it to thrive.

Ward 4

Christian Smith (Independent)

Kenneth Tahan (Democrat)

Joseph Scuralli (Republican)*

• Age: 56
• Years in town: 56 (lifelong resident of the 4th Ward)
• Occupation: Dean, Online at Berkeley College.
• Public offices held: I was elected in 2004 and am now completing my 4th consecutive term as 4th Ward Councilman. I also was an At-Large Councilman for 1 year, filling an unexpired term from December 2000 through December 2001.
• Family: Married to Annette; one Son, Joseph III, age 15, sophomore at Wayne Hills H.S.
• Community Activities: Chartered Organization Representative for Boy Scout Troop 108, Our Lady of the Valley R.C. Church, Wayne, NJ; served previously as Troop Committee Chair and Treasurer. Vice President and co-founder of the all-volunteer Wayne Radio Amateur Emergency Team (www.wraet.com), an Amateur Radio club dedicated to supporting emergency communications for Wayne Township. Member of the Wayne Township Republican Organization. Parishioner - Our Lady of the Valley R.C. Church. I have also served previously in various roles as an alternate member, full member and Vice-Chairman of the Wayne Township Zoning Board of Adjustment for four years.
• Why are you running: I am a lifelong resident of the 4th Ward (56 years). For more than 16 years, I have served as 4th Ward Councilman to help preserve the beautiful town I grew up in, for my family and yours, and for all of us to be able to live here at a price we can all afford. Wayne Township is clearly the jewel of Northern New Jersey and I strongly believe the 4th Ward is the heart of Wayne Township. I have and will continue to maintain the highest level of responsiveness to my constituents, as no problem is too big or too small. If an issue is important to you, it is important to me. 4th Ward residents can contact me days, nights or weekends at 973-696-5809 to discuss any concerns, issues or problems and I will do everything I can to help, as I always have. I also believe that proper zoning and enforcement of zoning ordinances is crucial to maintaining the suburban character of our town and the integrity of our neighborhoods. As such, I have fought to keep transient boarders from taking over our neighborhoods. My efforts have successfully compelled absentee landlords to maintain abandoned properties. I have always made sure that the 4th Ward received the appropriate level of township expenditures to maintain the services and infrastructure the residents of the 4th Ward deserve. Since I know my constituents face many financial demands in today’s economy and cannot afford unending increases in taxes, I have never voted for a property tax increase. From the beginning I promised accessible, responsive, and effective representation for the 4th Ward and have delivered it. I ask the voters of the 4th Ward to please vote to re-elect me, Joseph Scuralli, Row “B” Number “6” (6B) on November 5th. Thank you.

Ward 5

Lucy "Aileen" Rivera (Republican)*

• Age: 58
• How many years in town: Over 10 years
• Occupation: Office Manager at a law firm for 29 years
• Public Offices Held: 5th Ward Councilwoman 2016-present
• Family: married for 39 1/2 years, 3 adult sons, 5 grandchildren
• Community Activities: Raising Awareness of the Opioid & Drug Prevention & educating our children on the perils of drug abuse, united with the Wayne Alliance;-Put teams together primarily in the 5th Ward & throughout our town, to Paint Fire Hydrants, to make them visible for our firefighters to keep all Wayne Residents safe;-Chairwoman of the 1st ever Christmas Tree Lighting at the Wayne Elks Lodge, bringing the community together & organizing our 2nd Annual Christmas Tree Lightning scheduled for 11/24/2019;-Volunteering for the Wayne PAL Carnivals;-Championed & spearheaded the Stephen Komninos Law, signed by former Gov. Christie- which provides protection for all developmentally disabled citizens residing in group homes, thru transparency and accountability. This was a seven year uphill battle. This law was signed into effect in 2017, and is being enforced by DHS.
• Why are you running: First and foremost, I have thoroughly enjoyed working as your Councilwoman for the 5th Ward. When elected by you as your Councilwoman, I promised that I would be a fiscal conservative, and that I would vote to hold the line on the municipal property taxes...and, our municipal property taxes have virtually flatlined during my tenure! I have been passionate in my community involvement in being your Councilwoman. I have literally rolled up my sleeves to work for you! If re-elected, I will continue to seek creative approaches, innovative methods, and new ideas to keep Wayne moving forward, and I will continue to prioritize the 5th Ward Residents! I hope I can count with your vote! Please vote Row B on November 5th, 2019.

Francine Ritter (Democrat)

• Age: 54
• Years in town: 5 years
• Occupation: Attorney, Financial Services Compliance Executive and former Federal anti-fraud Enforcement lawyer.
• Public offices held: None
• Family: Two children in the Wayne School District
• Activities: Current President, Board of Trustees of Brittany Chase Condominium Association (Elected December 2018). Bringing transparency, accountability and respectful government to Ward 5’s Brittany Chase Community.
• Why are you running: I am running for Ward 5 Township Council to bring transparency, accountability and respectful government to all of Wayne. My priorities for Wayne include: lowering property taxes through increased shared services and organized business development efforts, enhanced quality of life including improved driver and pedestrian safety, and proactive open space and environmental protection management.