Deputy Mayor Albert Akerman is expected to be appointed as Lakewood’s Mayor for the coming year, TLS has learned. Though Township officials did not yet confirm the position, sources say the Republican-led Committee will appoint him as Mayor, since he’s the only one on the Committee who hasn’t yet served in the capacity of Mayor.
Akerman, a Republican, is currently in his second year as a first-time Committeeman, and will be running for re-election in 2013.
“It would be a great an honor if the committee would put their trust in me and allow me to serve the Township in such a high capacity, and I would humbly and graciously accept the position”, Akerman tells TLS.
The 5-member Committee is led majority by Republicans. Menashe Miller, Albert Akerman and Steven Langert are Republicans, while Ray Coles and Meir Lichtenstien are Democrats.
Mayor Miller served as Mayor for the last two years.
The Committee’s Reorganization is held in January. TLS.
Conscientious guy . Cannot be compromised . Shoots a nice jump shot also.
never returned my calls…
Ray Coles for mayor!!!
An absolute wise choice! Isaac is everything a mayor calls for: He is cordial, understanding, a gentleman and has ALL of Lakewood’s citizens on his mind. Way to go, Isaac!
2016 is around the corner!
I thought a Mayor was elected as opposed to appointed….. can someone please enlighten me ?
This is how it works in Lakewood, everyone gets a turn? Unbelievable.
First, the mayor is a member of the party in the majority, and thus it will be the majority party in power who determines who the mayor is.
As this is a township form of government, the mayor is chosen each year by the other elected committeemen.
Coles is a democrat and has no chance of becoming mayor, that is, until there are at least 3 democrats in majority.
It usually happens that when the person is up for re-election that year, he is chosen. In the recent past it was most out of character to have someone serve as mayor twice in a row.
Why does the current mayor not continue? He is doing a great job
Isaac will do great! Thank you for all you do for us.
Mr.Akerman is a true gem, as a person and as a politician, and I personally would be thrilled to see him as mayor, continuing the great work Mr. Miller has done until now
I believe Ray Coles was a mayor twice in the row as well…
Is somebody tell me When last time
Ray Coles was the Mayor?
Ray Coles for mayor!!!
Here is a twelfth grade government lesson:
Lakewood is governed by the council-manager system. The municapl manager is the administrator of government with the power to hire and fire. He submits a budget and controls the spending of funds. The role of the elected township committee is to make policy. This arrangement is preferred by students of government as it puts executive functions into a trained professional more or less free from politics rather than a regular mayor.
The other two forms of municipal government are the commission system, invented in Galveston after the Great Hurricane of 1900 ( the greatest natural disaster in US history), in which city department heads collectively make policy, and the mayor-council system in which executive power is vested a mayor and legislative power is put in the city council. The disadvantage of the commission form is that each commissioner tends to be locked into the view of people in his own bureau. The mayor-council system of municipal government is preferred in large cities where political skills of a single individual vested with executive power are important in forming coalitions to bring diverse groups together. In towns with dominating majorities, a professional manager is preferred to having a mayor. Hence the manager-committee form of municipal government under Lakewood’s charter.
Ray Coles for Mayor!!
A more direct answer to some of the questions–Lakewood does not have a mayor. What Lakewood calls “mayor” is only a ceremonial title, like the Board of Education president. He has no legal power.
Aizik will make a great mayor.
Issac we can’t wait. We know you will do a great job as usual.
Issac has served well. He will be a very good Mayor. Good luck and may G-D bless you as you serve the people of Lakewood Township..
Will Steve be the depeuty?