Six running for Lawrence village trustee

In Lawrence village six people are vying for two trustee seats. Along with two mayoral candidates and two people vying for village justice is a record-breaking election year, officials said.

Trustee Syma Diamond is stepping down and Trustee Uri Kaufman is running for re-election under the Harmony Party banner. Bruce A. Backman and Dr. Joel M. Preminger are on the People’s Party slate and Eli Kutner and Paris Popack are on the Unity Party ticket. The term is two years.

Robert A. Backman
Backman, 42, said he wants to hold the line on taxes, improve the village’s infrastructure with a better park for children using Cedarhurst Park as a model and a bike lane looped around the golf course. The political, media consultant said he wants to be the voice of the middle class village residents.

Opposed to building what he called a “lavish swimming pool” he would like to see the sewage treatment land sold to the highest bidder and have the money for a rainy day fund.

“I am for anything a majority of the trustees want, I’m not opposed to the Regency model and not opposed to single-family homes,” said Backman, adding he is a supporter of honest, deliberative decision-making. The Regency Apartments is a complex of roughly 140 units on Central Avenue in Lawrence.

He supports operation of the country club and it should be generating income not hurting the village. Backman also said there is money available from other sources to place power lines underground.
“My goal is to work for everyone,” he said, noting that he worked for Gov. George Pataki and learned how to be a consensus builder.

Uri Kaufman
Kaufman, 56, a real estate developer, supports selling the sewage treatment plant land to build a slightly smaller version of the Regency apartments on Central Avenue. With the money generated from the sale, he wants to build a multi-sports complex with two swimming pools, gymnasium and an indoor playground, and buy a beach club.

“This is transformative, we must do this to preserve the country club that is losing a lot of money,” said Kaufman, who is married and has four children. “I showed the [Lawrence] school district how to save $14 million. I’ve been through this. I know how to do this.” Kaufman said construction of the sports complex would take 18 months to two years to build.

He said he also wants to help the village in its recovery from the coronavirus pandemic as “efficiently and as effectively as we can,” and replace the chain link fence that surrounds the Sage Pond with a more aesthetic pleasing corral fence and install a bird watching platform. Also on his radar is an electronic payment system.

“This is the single most important election in Lawrence in 50 years,” Kaufman said. “We will decide what will happen with the sewage treatment plant. I’m the guy who is going to rescue the country club. There is one chance for the people Lawrence to make the right decision.”

Eli Kutner
Kutner, 42, is a newcomer to village politics. The commercial real estate financier who is the vice president and a partner with Harborview Capital Partners said he is running because he holds a “large concern for my neighborhood and community,” calling Lawrence, “a great place to live,” because of its proximity to New York City while maintaining a more serene environment.

With a background in government and academia, Kutner worked behind the scenes in Washington D.C. working with former Congressmen Ed Bryant and Harold Ford Jr., where he was “instrumental in legislation and focused on community relationship,” and has done post-graduate work at Oxford University.

Kutner thinks the sale of the sewage treatment plant land is a “one-time event defining what we do.” He said he agrees with Edelman to build an aquatic center with proceeds from the transaction for the country club to remain a focal point and be used by the entire community.

As a recreational pass club member, Kutner said he is aware of the declining number of golf courses and thinks that more should be done to encourage younger community members to join.

“It is important for a trustee to be open-minded to hear all sides,” Kutner said. “My job is to listen to the people what they want and think and given the situation a trustee is entrusted to also make the best decisions.” He added he wants to improve communication between the community and Sanitary District 1.

J. Lawrence Kolodny
Lawrence, 43, a commercial contractor, said he is running to help fix village government and get the levers of government working more for the residents.

Village roads need repairing, he said, and wants to see improved communication between the village and residents and utilities, especially in emergencies such as power outages. Lawrence wants to increase village security with surveillance cameras and license plate readers that could provide information for the police.

He said that village building fees need to be reduced, there should be a way to differentiate between a resident and a non-resident regarding overnight parking and upgraded technology for online payments.

Lawrence said that he wants the “best use” for the sewage treatment plant land and while the residents in the immediate area are supportive of single-family homes, he said that might not be the best use. Saying he is not a fan of high-density building such as the Regency, the complaints about that were not borne out, Lawrence said and it became an asset.

“If we could get a lot of money and do it in a way that is tasteful,” he said, then there would be a benefit to selling the land.

Lawrence said the village has done a good job with the country club as it needs to be viewed as an asset and a moneymaking proposition. “The country club has to work for the residents,” he said, “it belongs to the residents.”

Dr. Joel M. Preminger
Preminger, 37, a pediatric dentist with a practice in Cedarhurst, said he is running to offer a fresh perspective and a voice to a younger demographic.

The lifelong Five Towns resident said he would like to see Lawrence replicate Cedarhurst’s park and road renovation projects, while improving what he called “horrible” lighting. He also would like to see a new library.

On the sewage treatment land, Preminger said he is not set on one option, and wants to weigh the viable choices seeking the least negative impact and best outcome for the village.

He had a youth membership at the country club when he was younger said it was great and played a critical role in his life. Preminger said he wants the club to be successful and has no interest in it going the way of the Woodmere Club.

“Overall I want things to run much better and if elected my door is open,” he said. "I’m bringing a fresh perspective and look to improve upon things.”

Paris Popack
Popack, 55, is the outgoing president of the Lawrence Association, the village’s civic group. Also on the Parks Commission, Popack said that she has developed relationships with residents and village employees and pointed to her revamping of the Lawrence Association Bulletin, a monthly newsletter, and success raising money with Play for Pink, a charity that fights breast cancer in describing herself as a “creative doer.”

“I would want to help the village best way I can and help Lawrence remain as it is and striving to be better,” she said.

Popack said the sewage plant land is zoned for single-family homes and should remain that way with at least seven homes being built with a pocket park.

“Nothing else, we should not sacrifice quality of life for the resident,” she said, adding that she will continue to fight the possible development of the Woodmere Club and that the country club is “resident friendly” and has a permanent kosher caterer/facility.

“I have tons of experience, most of the candidates have no experience,” Popack said, noting that she attends the board meetings and led the Lawrence Association meetings.

Voting is Tuesday, Sept. 15 from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., at the Lawrence Yacht & Country Club at 101 Causeway in Lawrence.