WOODCLIFF LAKE —Two-term Republican Mayor Carlos Rendo and his two running mates hope to make a dent in the now all-Democratic Borough Council on Nov. 7, facing off against Democratic former councilwoman Nancy Gross for mayor, incumbent councilman Richard Schnoll, and a Democratic newcomer.
Due to “a snafu” in filing his election petition, Rendo and his running mates, Julie B. Brodsky and Joshua S. Stern, were forced to mount a write-in primary campaign to get on the Republican Party line in the November ballot.
Each was required to receive a minimum of 25 registered Republican votes to get on the ballot. Rendo got 271 votes, Stern got 273 votes and Brodsky got 260 votes in the June 6 Primary Election.
Rendo, who has served as mayor since 2016, kicked off the last year of his two terms as mayor promising increased public transparency, conducting regular Facebook Live events and periodic coffees on Saturday mornings at Whole Foods.
He also said that win or lose, this is his last bid for mayor.
Rendo told Pascack Press, “We’ve experienced tremendous success in both my terms as mayor, making Woodcliff Lake one of the premier suburbs in Bergen County. We will face many challenges down the road, but I am certain that our best days are yet to come.”
Rendo has pressed for the development of Galaxy Gardens Passive Park, a proposed park on the former Galaxy Gardens garden center site since the 2.1-acre site was acquired for $1.65 million by the borough in early 2018, with Rendo casting the deciding vote.
Since then, the site had undergone nearly a half-million dollars of environmental remediation, and remains unbuilt, with local officials hoping to get approval on state environmental permits by year’s end, and bid specs likely out in 2024. (See “Galaxy Gardens Park Eyed For 2024,” Michael Olohan, Sept. 2, 2023, Pascack Press.)
Along with mayors in Park Ridge and HIllsdale, Rendo has also pushed for development of a 1.5-mile Woodcliff Lake Reservoir Nature Trail, which was discussed for a decade and appears near to an agreement with Veolia North America and the three towns involved.
Rendo served on the council from 2013 through 2016. An attorney with his own law practice, he has lived in town since 2000, and has three children with his wife, Michelle. He was the Republican Lt. Gov. candidate in 2017, teamed with Kim Guadagno. They lost to the Gov. Phil Murphy and the late Sheila Oliver.
In a campaign release, Rendo told Pascack Press that his top concerns include recreational improvements, including baseball/softball fields and tennis courts that need renovation.
Another key priority: “Bring back events such as Springfest on the [Centennial] Causeway,” said the mayor.
Rendo’s Republican platform notes that improving the tax base and financial discipline are priorities, plus attracting new businesses such as Party City, as Rendo previously did.
A statement sent by the Rendo campaign says, “Our opponents’ vision is to bring a marijuana dispensary to town. At the same time, we need to maintain financial discipline. Our residents deserve better than having their government raise their taxes every year.”
That said, a council Cannabis Exploratory Advisory Committee formed this spring was disbanded after strong public pushback and no council-led efforts were made to bring cannabis here.
Under What we offer, the Republican candidates assert they are “out-of-the-box thinkers that bring a wealth of real-world professional experience.” They say they aim to “bring balance back to municipal government, where the Borough Council is currently controlled by one party.”
Currently, Democrats hold all six council seats.
Rendo’s running mates are newcomers Julie B. Brodsky and Joshua S. Stern.
Brodsky — Brodsky is a retail executive at Bloomingdale’s for three decades — told Pascack Press, “I believe, with my background in creating and enhancing the customer experience and seeking out and developing new businesses, I have much to contribute to today’s council and the future of Woodcliff Lake.”
She has volunteered with the local PFA and served as a parent liaison to Pascack Hills Varsity Baseball and Emory University Baseball.
She and her husband, Steve, are 17-year borough residents, along with their two sons.
Stern told us, “I am running for council because I want to make our town the best place for my kids to grow up in. The council needs balance and someone to ask the tough questions — about taxes, parks and recreation, and a host of other issues. As an attorney with 20 years’ experience, I believe I am well suited to meet that need,” he said.
Stern practices commercial litigation. He and wife, Erica, who grew up in town, are parents to two young boys. He has resided in Woodcliff Lake for five years, and is a member of the Planning Board.
Gross: “Offset the tax burden”
A resident of more than 30 years, Democratic mayoral challenger Nancy Gross told us her priorities include finding new ways to offset the residential tax burden while maintaining the small-town feel of our community. She said, “I will work to support all of our residents and businesses through community engagement and will collaborate to reach consensus on our collective path forward.”
And she said, “I believe Woodcliff Lake deserves a mayor who is committed to doing the work, offers real transparency, and understands their role as a public servant.”
As a former councilwoman, she served as police commissioner, and had experience on 12 committees including parks and recreation and the senior association.
She said she is a “proven negotiator, mediator and problem solver in professional leadership and community roles.”
In a campaign flier, Gross notes she has “more than 20 years as a school district parent and volunteer” and is “devoted to communication, transparency and community.”
She told us, “Having raised my family in Woodcliff Lake for 30 years, I know how much our town has to offer. But we need a real plan and vision for the future. We need to stop being reactionary and have a forward-looking view.”
She added, “We can do this by improving community relations, being careful stewards of our residents’ tax dollars, and taking great care of what we already possess. We can no longer afford to allow our assets to fall into disrepair. Decisions can not be made unilaterally without taking into consideration input from town members and stakeholders.”
She continued, “Through communication, collaboration and cooperation, we will work together to assure Woodcliff Lake shines as a thriving and connected community.”
Her two Democratic running mates are incumbent councilman Richard Schnoll, and newcomer Jared Shapiro.
Schnoll is a 30-year resident and council member since 2021. He has served on the Finance and Audits, Police Department, and Legal Committees. He is a managing partner at a law firm and father of two children who attended local schools. Schnoll has received praise for his work on the Finance and Audits committee.
Shapiro is a former council member, local Fire Chief, and Tri-Boro Ambulance volunteer, and familiar with borough operations and community safety. He is currently the Deputy Coordinator of Emergency Management and a member of the volunteer Fire Department.
Shapiro is a healthcare executive and brings with him many years of experience focused on operational excellence, organizational management, and process improvement.
He told us he feels that his professional experience and local involvement make him “uniquely qualified” to navigate local government and to capitalize on opportunities. He and his wife, Rachel, have two young children.
Both candidates join Gross on a campaign flier titled, “Protecting and Promoting Woodcliff Lake’s Charm.”
It states three highlighted campaign themes: Community engagement and unity; efficient resource allocation; and sustainable developments and partnerships.
PVRHS BOE race
In Woodcliff Lake, voters will also get to choose between two newcomers running for one seat on the Pascack Valley Regional High School District Board of Education: Stephanie Mong-Ping Huang and Jennifer L. Levison.