Glen Rock November 2, 2011 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 3 Candidates compete for mayor’s post, one council seat by John Koster On Nov. 8, John van Keuren, Glen Rock’s incumbent Republican mayor, will be challenged by Mark McCullough, a Glen Rock Planning Board member and former Democratic councilman. Democratic challenger Howard Fox will attempt to win a council seat now held by either Pamela Biggs or Art Pazan, both of whom are Republicans. McCullough is a graduate of Hope College and a member of Mensa, the organization for people with top-level IQs. He had worked as an executive for many years. McCullough served a full elected term as a Democrat on the Glen Rock Borough Council, but was not re-elected in subsequent bids. He has served for a number of years as an appointed member on the Glen Rock Planning Board, and is active in local recreation, taxpayer, and senior activities. Mayor van Keuren, a two-term incumbent, served as a member of the Glen Rock Borough Council for 10 years before being elected mayor. A graduate of Hamilton College with a major in mathematics, van Keuren was employed as an actuary for many years. He served as a trainee and enlisted man for six months in the U.S. Army Reserve in the years between the Korean War and the Vietnam War, and actively supports veterans’ events. He is also involved in outreach programs for seniors and environmental activities, and promotes Sustainable New Jersey. With Planning Board Secretary Nancy Spiller, van Keuren is a supporter of the borough’s relationship with the town of Onomachi in Japan. He also takes part in the interfaith National Day of Prayer. Mayor van Keuren regularly has coffee at Starbucks on Rock Road for several hours on Saturday mornings to hear concerns from the residents. He is an active blood donor, and has contributed 75 pints of whole blood over the years. Incumbent Councilwoman Biggs is a retired IBM executive, where she gained 31 years of corporate experience. She is now the chief operating officer of a small manufacturing business. A Glen Rock resident for more than 30 years, she was named a Bergen County Volunteer of the Year in 2006 for her many service activities in the community. Her community service includes co-founding the Glen Rock Relay for Life, and serving as chair of that fundraiser for cancer research for seven years. She has worked with Glen Rock youth in many capacities, serving on the board of advisors for the North Jersey American (continued on page 21) Glen Rock Mayor John van Keuren said that a rumor that building a second senior citizen housing development at 175 Rock Road would damage the borough’s credit is just that: a rumor that can easily be dispelled by firsthand facts. Mayor stifles housing rumor as count-down to vote nears Mayor van Keuren said he and the entire council are strongly committed to paying down Glen Rock’s bond indebtedness and that the consideration of the second senior sit e i n t h e a r e a b e h i n d C VS i s s t i l l (continued on page 14)