Village of Lawrence posts go unchallenged

Elections for mayor, two trustee positions and the village justice are uncontested this year in Lawrence.
Mayor Martin Oliner is running for his second, two-year term; Trustee C. Simon Felder is running for his second, two year term after serving previously as mayor, and Erwin “Irving” Langer is running for the first time as a trustee. Village Justice Donald Buchalter, who has held the position since 1987 is running for another four-year term. Trustee Ed Klar decided not to run for re-election.
Oliner, who served previously as a trustee, said that the village consistently faces multiple issues that he thinks his administration has handled responsibly. “It is a continuum of problems that requires us to interface with the community at large and I am uniquely qualified to do all that,” he said. Whether it’s a hurricane, flooding or mosquito infestation, Oliner said, he promptly responds to messages from residents.
Concerned about maintaining the village’s quality of life, Oliner thinks that the leadership demonstrated by his administration in the past two years has helped to resolve issues regarding traffic and the sewage infrastructure. “It is making sure that the village does its part in providing services,” said Oliner, who added that the view that Lawrence is an “island” is antiquated. His philosophy is “the village needs to interface with all government officials,” to ensure that quality services are delivered to the residents.
“I take my job extremely seriously, they couldn’t pay me enough money, I am committed to it and like to contribute to a better village,” Oliner said. Compensation for village board members was floated earlier this year and the mayor opposed the idea.
Though the candidates are unopposed,
Oliner thinks that residents should come out to vote. “It’s a way of people showing their interest in government,” he said. “Beyond the obvious of civic duty, pulling the lever here is terribly important to show that you care and are happy.”
Felder, a nearly 25-year veteran of Lawrence’s government, said he views the challenge of governing through a prism of a “multiplicity of issues in the very complex world we live in today.”
Saying that he is concerned about maintaining the village’s beauty and security, Felder pointed to street repair and sustaining a good relationship with the 4th Precinct as two accomplishments in his time as trustee.
Controversy has surrounded William Street for more than a year, regarding whether to keep it a one-way street or make it a two-way street. Felder, noted the difference of opinion on the village board, but said that it “should be handled that it doesn’t create an untenable situation.” In a vote taken last July, he opposed a plan to widen the street.
On the issue of compensating board members, Felder said he respects those he disagrees with, but noted the village’s volunteer culture. “There are municipalities that compensate to a certain degree, but the tradition in Lawrence of all those who have served is the idea of compensation never entered the picture,” he said.
Serving his community and completing projects is what motivates him to seek re-election. “Seeing these things come to fruition makes me more supercharged and why I want to serve,” said Felder, a child Holocaust survivor who lectures about his experiences.
Newcomer Langer thinks his professional and volunteer experience could be an asset to running the community. “I have been in business 40 plus years and have managerial skills I can bring and life experience,” he said. “I’ve been instrumental in solving some issues on the committees I have served on and good things were derived from those decisions.”
He is chairman of the executive committee at OHEL in Far Rockaway and is chairman of the board for Yeshiva Tiferes Yisroel in Flatbush. OHEL is a program oriented family and children services organization. Tiferes Yisroel began 25 years ago with 18 boys and now has an enrollment of close to a 1,000, Langer said. “I think I could be helpful,” he said.
Only two people have been village justice and Buchalter has served full-time in that capacity since 1987. He began as the village prosecutor when Lawrence’s court was established in 1968. Twelve years later, he was appointed acting village justice. Cal Polivey was the first village justice.
Every Tuesday night in Village Hall, Buchalter is presiding over cases that involve violations of vehicular traffic, which he said is 80 percent of the cases, and the remainder concern building code violations. “Somebody has to be the judge in the village and make sure all our laws are obeyed,” he said, adding that his years of experience give him a comprehensive knowledge of Lawrence.
Voting takes place from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Village Hall, located at 196 Central Ave. in Lawrence.