Early signs of interest in Lawrence village elections

Election Day in the Village of Lawrence is not until June 19, but some potential candidates are already indicating an interest in running for mayor or trustee.

Mayor Simon Felder and trustees Ed Klar and Martin Oliner are up for re-election this year. During the Feb. 24 Lawrence Association meeting, attorney Jeff Katz, who ran unsuccessfully for incumbent Jeff Toback's seat in the Nassau County Legislature in 2005, expressed an interest in running for mayor, and David Stein, a member of the Lawrence Association, indicated he was considering a run for trustee.

Lawrence Association President Rochelle Kevelson said that the group's nominating committee is hoping to begin interviewing interested mayoral and trustee candidates later this month and to decide whether they will endorse anyone by mid-April. "I'm very happy that [people] are expressing an interest in running," Kevelson said. "I hope they will take an active interest and follow the issues."

Lawrence has not had a contested village election since 2003, when challenger Joel Mael unseated incumbent Howard Siskind. Last year, Jacqueline Handel set out to challenge Trustee Michael Fragin but dropped out after the county Board of Elections ruled that some petitions she gathered were invalid.

Katz works for the Manhattan law firm Dechert LLP. Stein, who is also an attorney, headed a Lawrence Association committee several years ago that reviewed the group's constitution. Neither Stein nor Katz returned calls seeking comment.

Felder said he is still undecided about whether he will seek re-election, but welcomes the idea that the 2010 election could be contested. "It is extremely healthy for this community — and any community — for civic-minded people to show an interest in what goes on in their community," said Felder, who served as village trustee from 1997 to 2008 before being elected mayor two years ago.

Trustee Michael Fragin, who considered a run for mayor in 2008 before being appointed to the board by Felder, said he has no plans to run for the village's top post this year. "I have no plans right now to run," said Fragin, who will not be up for re-election as trustee until 2011. "I think I have made a positive contribution the last two years, and that is something I plan to continue to do."

Klar and Oliner both said they plan to seek re-election. Oliner said he would prefer that a contested election be avoided to prevent tension in the village. "We don't usually have contested elections," he said. "This has always been a very selfless village."

Klar has a different view, saying he welcomes the challenge of a potential contested election. "I love healthy competition," he said. "I'm always happy to have people involved."

Potential candidates have until May 11 to file the necessary petitions to run for mayor or trustee.