Two Challengers, Mayor Win Teaneck Township Council Seats

Note: This report has been updated with new numbers provided by the Township Clerk Wednesday morning. The updated numbers now include vote-by-mail ballots. 

Teaneck’s mayor, a town ambulance service volunteer and a school board member won seats on the Township Council Tuesday night.

Mohammed Hameeduddin, Bergen County’s first Muslim mayor, was re-elected by a wide margin, netting 4,501 votes, according to unofficial totals released by the town clerk. Mark Schwartz, a council newcomer and Planning Board member, won his first four-year term with 3,254 votes.

Henry Pruitt, a school board member and former board president, also won his first term on the council with 2,943 votes.

Councilwoman Barbara Toffler lost her bid for a second term with 2,599 votes. Monica Honis, a teacher, was denied a third term on the council with 2,303 votes.

Scientist Alexander Rashin received 1,111 votes in his first council run.

The election largely focused on concerns over development, attracting business, town services, budgeting and community relations.  

Schwartz, a real estate consultant, had described his ideas to increase foot traffic as a way to .

Hameeduddin pointed to the need for a redevelopment authority to manage economic development. The mayor had pointed to his support from five of six council colleagues.

Pruitt cited cost-saving measures implemented during his term on the Board of Education and called for better communication between the council and school board. A and power purchase plan were two of the initiatives taken on under his term with the school board.

He also said the township should look to improve all of its business districts, rather than focusing on Queen Anne Road and Cedar Lane.

The town’s current four-day workweek for Municipal Building staffers became an election issue. Toffler was a , saying it had not saved money and inconvenienced residents.

The councilwoman had vowed to fight for transparency and said she wanted the council to hold workshop meetings to keep residents informed. On budgeting, Toffler argued for line item review of the town budget, rather than building on past versions.

Honis focused on township infrastructure and development. She called for improved working conditions for town hall workers.

Rashin, who frequently attends council meetings, had said the township should explore technology to save money and be more responsive to residents.

Township Clerk Jamie Evelina said the results were unofficial and provisional ballots were not yet included in the totals.

The Township Council selects the mayor and will reorganize July 1. Council members serve for four-year terms. 

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First published 10:27 p.m. Tuesday. Updated 2 a.m. Wednesday.