Cosgrove Expected to Remain Mayor in 2014

Fair Lawn Mayor John Cosgrove is expected to remain mayor for another year following the victory of Republican council candidates Daniel Dunay and Amy Lefkowitz in Tuesday's election.

Both candidates had pledged that they would keep Cosgrove as mayor and ran as "the Cosgrove team" during their campaign. Their victory means the Republicans will maintain their 3-2 majority on the council.

Their first order of business next year will be eliminating health care for members of the council — a campaign pledge made by Lefkowitz and Dunay — in order to save money for taxpayers, Cosgrove said Wednesday. As of last year, council members were entitled to a salary and health benefits that cost more than $30,000, with the health benefits making up the majority of that expense.

"We're going to take that up from day one," Cosgrove said.

He said they plan to continue supporting the Economic Development Corporation's Radburn study and its efforts to attract more businesses to Fair Lawn as another early effort in the new term. They will also get started on the first steps for a senior housing project at the Hadco/KEM site, he said.

Cosgrove also pledged to continue working with Democrats Lisa Swain and Kurt Peluso.

"I'm looking forward to working with out two new council members. I think they're both bright and hard-working people," Cosgrove said. "We'll also continue to reach across the aisle and give the other two council members a seat at the table."

According to unofficial election results, Dunay received 4,230 votes in Tuesday's election. Lefkowitz had 4,188. Democrats Joan Goldstein and Cristina Cutrone received 4,047 and 3,880, respectively.