Former Mayor Barbara Rowen endorses Marjorie Hargrave in Hillside runoff election

Barbara Rowen, the trailblazing activist who became Hillside’s first directly-elected mayor after she played a pivotal role in the township’s change of government in 1997, has endorsed Marjorie Hargrave in the upcoming December 5 runoff election for council.

Known for her historic role in steering Hillside towards a directly-elected mayor system in a change of government in 1997, Rowen said during an interview with NJTODAY that she has thrown her support behind Hargrave.

Rowen expressed the view that the community needs leaders who are willing to stand up to the mayor and her out-of-town political allies, and she said Hargrave best fits that role.

Hargrave, a contender in the runoff, is facing off against David Feuerstein, an insurance broker.

Three candidates who ostensibly had the support of Mayor Dahlia Vertreese—Josianne Payoute, Ivelesse Sermeno, and Al-Nisa S. Tucker—were soundly rejected in the initial round of balloting on November 7.

There is a consensus in town that Vertreese and Feuerstein struck a deal but as the December 5 runoff approaches, Hargrave’s endorsement from Rowen adds a significant dynamic to the race identifying her as the most genuine advocate for the people instead of the political establishment and outside interests.

In addition to bringing attention to the importance of local leadership and the need for independent representatives who can actively address the concerns of the Hillside community, Hargrave is benefiting from the exposure of the Mayor’s backroom antics and Feuerstein is quickly becoming viewed as a lackey.

Residents will head to the polls on December 5 to determine whether Hargrave or Feuerstein will emerge as the newest member of the Hillside Council, a decision that will undoubtedly shape the future trajectory of the township.

Hargrave and Feuerstein eliminated Councilman Gerald Pateesh Freedman, who represented Hillside’s 4th Ward for over two decades, and Sermeno in the first round of balloting in November, leaving Hargrave and Feuerstein poised for a head-to-head competition to secure the council seat.

Feuerstein is a former municipal insurance contractor who was fired from his job at Brown and Brown and lost contracts with both the Township and the Hillside Board of Education.

Some residents suspect that he would be cozy with developers if he is elected to the Township Council.

“Feuerstein would be susceptible to influence from developers whose interests do not align with those of homeowners,” said a resident who asked not to be named. “He has five kids and a history of making money off taxpayers, so Devid is more likely to be open to wheeling and dealing while Marjorie is more of a community person, who is going to put people first.”