Page 10 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • November 13, 2013 Allendale Republicans retain control of borough council by John Koster Incumbent Council Member Ari Bernstein and plan- ning board member Stephen Sasso were elected handily to the two available seats on the Allendale Borough Coun- cil. Bernstein, an attorney, received 1,255 votes and Sasso, a newcomer to the council, received 1,186 votes. Carol Sheehan, the Democratic challenger, received 649 votes. Sasso was selected to run on the Republican ticket when two-term incumbent Susan LaMonica announced some months ago that she would not be seeking re-elec- tion. “I would like to thank the voters of Allendale for their confidence and I’m looking forward to serving our won- derful community as your councilman,” Sasso said after Election Day. Sasso has been a member of the Allendale Planning Board since 2009. He is also treasurer of the Allendale Republican Club. The councilman-elect, who grew up in Bergen County, holds an MBA in finance. This year, the WTC Steel Memorial Committee named Sasso treasurer. Sasso describes himself as a fiscal conservative and said he would like to continue the work needed to keep Allendale the model of fiscal responsibility, open space protection, and thoughtful growth. Bernstein is now completing his second term on the council. He is a graduate of Northern Highlands Regional High School and Johns Hopkins and received a law degree from Pace University. He is an attorney and partner in a regional law firm. As a member of the planning board, he has been work- ing on the revision of the borough’s master plan to address the future of Allendale. He has also chaired the Public Safety Committee. Prior to the election, he pledged that he would, if re-elected, continue to do his utmost to work with the mayor and council, all of the departments, and the residents to preserve the unique character of the town. Sheehan has lived in Allendale for 17 years with her husband Neil and their children, Tim and Meaghan. Shee- han is a member and secretary of the Allendale Planning Board and is active with the Field of Dreams at North- ern Highlands. She also serves on the Ridgewood Con- cert Band Board of Trustees. A lifelong resident of New Jersey, Sheehan is a graduate of Douglass College and holds a Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter designation. She has been employed by Plymouth Rock Assurance and its predecessor since 1981. Candidates gain endorsements for K-8, regional boards The candidates for the Allendale K-8 and Northern Highlands Regional High School boards of education ran unopposed in the Nov. 5 election. All have received the voters’ formal endorsement. Allendale K-8 The Allendale Board of Education incumbents were both elected in an uncontested race even though one of them received 17 write-in votes due to a late arrival. Allendale K-8 Board of Education President Melissa Duncan received a total of 407 votes in her bid for a third term on the board. Gwen Keeble, appointed to the board in June when incumbent John Geraghty resigned due to unexpected work pressure, is deemed to have been elected to the second seat with 17 write-in votes, although school offi- cials say this must be confirmed by Bergen County at a date not yet specified. Keeble is an environmental manager for Rockland Electric and has a degree from Rutgers University in envi- ronmental science. Northern Highlands Three Upper Saddle River incumbents ran for three available seats on the Northern Highlands Regional Board of Education. Dr. Robert A Hands Jr. received 747 ballots, Ann Pagano earned 630 votes, and Robert C. Wei received 648 votes. Wei previously served on the Upper Saddle River K-8 board for seven years. Pagano unseated prior incumbents to win election to the regional board. Dr. Hands is a pedi- atric physician with a local practice. Allendale, which also has voting rights in the regional district, did not have any trustees up for election this year. The Northern Highlands Regional High School Board of Education also accepts students from Saddle River and Ho-Ho-Kus. J. KOSTER