NORTHFIELD — Mayor Erland Chau is facing a challenge for his long-held seat from Bob Zlotnick, president and executive director of Atlantic Prevention Resources, in the municipal election Nov. 7.
Chau has been a resident in Northfield for 60 years and has been involved in the local government for more than three decades. The former science teacher at Mainland Regional High School was a city councilman for 23 years and has served nine years as mayor. He also served on the Northfield Zoning Board and Northfield Board of Education for four years each.
Chau, 71, earned a bachelor’s degree in biological sciences from Jacksonville University, his New Jersey teaching certificate from Glassboro State College (now Rowan University) and a master’s degree in education from Mary Grove College in Detroit, Mich. In addition, he has taken graduate-level course at several institutions.
In addition, Chau is a member and former president of the Atlantic County League of Municipalities for 28 years and a member of the Atlantic County Mayors Association for nine years.
Chau also served on the New Jersey Education Association’s Atlantic County Council of Education Associations.
He currently serves as a NJSIAA high school sports official and has been an active member of the Northfield Volunteer Fire for 49 years.
“I am very proud of my many years of dedication and service to my Northfield community and Atlantic County,” Chau said. “I want to continue serving as mayor because I care for my community and want to continue my volunteer and civic activities.”
Chau said Northfield is a great community.
“We have a strong and wonderful business community. I want to continue this attribute and continue to bring best-practice ideas for Northfield,” he added.
He said the major issue now and into the future will be balancing city services with taxes.
“It is important to keep city government running efficiently and maintaining a good, sound city budget,” he said.
Another goal is to support the Northfield Community School education system.
“Throughout my city government services, I have always maintained an open ear to the concerns of my residential and business community. I believe in transparency and maintaining good government services,” Chau said. “As mayor, my goals are to utilize my experiences and knowledge to advise and consent our City Council members in making good decisions for our city.”
He said it also is important to keep an open line of communication with Atlantic County government and the city Board of Education.
Zlotnick, 60, and his wife, Julie, have two adult sons: Jake, who serves with the U.S. Forest Service in Idaho, and Ben, who is a paramedic with Denver Health in Colorado.
Julie Zlotnick, who works for Jewish Family Service in Margate, served on City Council to complete the term of Vince Mazzeo when he was elected mayor in 2007.
Zlotnick earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree and doctorate in psycho-educational processes, all from Temple University.
He has served as executive director of Atlantic Prevention Resources, a non-profit agency with offices in Absecon, Mays Landing and Pleasantville, for the past 28 years. APRs mission is the prevention of the harm caused by substance use and/or violence.
Zlotnick, who was president of the Northfield Education Foundation when his boys were in school, has been involved with the community as a volunteer with the Northfield Municipal Alliance and youth sports coach. He also has volunteered for several years at After Prom at Mainland Regional High School.
“I want to ensure that Northfield maintains the character of a small hometown and I would like to see more recreational opportunities at Birch Grove Park,” Zlotnick said.
He said he believes some skills he obtained through his employment lends themselves to serving on City Council. He said he has been successful writing grants and oversaw a budget that increases by 1,000 percent during his tenure.
He said the top issues in the city involve cannabis businesses, public safety and affordable housing.
Zlotnick said he is not in favor of marijuana legalization and believes legal cannabis shops would have a negative effect on Northfield.
“Even though the state Legislature legalized cannabis, and a majority of city voters approved sales in the city, the council is wise to take its time to weigh all the benefits and possible added costs to city residents.” he said. “Cannabis shops on the Tilton Road corridor would bring added traffic to Northfield and added law enforcement may be necessary. The modest tax revenue the city realizes may not be enough to cover all expenses.”
City Council voted against allowing cannabis businesses despite a municipal vote that mirrored the statewide vote of two-thirds in favor of legalizing the recreational use of marijuana and a non-binding referendum that found city residents want cannabis stores, City Council has made no move to introduce legislation since the previous ordinance was voted down
Zlotnick said he supports law enforcement.
“I would like to see Northfield remain a safe community. I encourage the city to keep seeking additional grants to strengthen community policing and efforts to integrate community involvement into current law enforcement efforts here,” he said.
Zlotnick also supports balancing services with taxes.
“The city needs to continue to seek other funding so that it can expand services to residents without increasing the burden on taxpayers,” he said.
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff