Bob Silverstein will fill vacant seat (Dec. 12)
By: Lauren Burgoon
ROOSEVELT With a promise to work hard for the community he’s lived in for 13 years, the newest Roosevelt councilman assumed his position Monday after a unanimous council appointment.
Bob Silverstein, 46, will fill the seat left vacant by Jeff Hunt, who suddenly resigned in November because he is moving out of town. Mr. Silverstein will serve the remaining year of Mr. Hunt’s term.
Mr. Silverstein, a writer who lives with his wife and two children on Pine Drive, said the time is right to serve Roosevelt.
"I feel as though all citizens should serve their community and I was looking forward to doing it at some point," he said Monday. "The time is appropriate now in my life and I think I have a lot of things to bring to the table."
The environment is close to Mr. Silverstein’s heart and he plans to turn an eye to those issues.
While Mr. Silverstein was welcomed with applause from his neighbors, one councilwoman called it a "damn shame" that the three viable candidates could not be found for the council to choose among. The Democratic Committee for Roosevelt’s Future had by law to nominate three people for the seat, but only Mr. Silverstein was really interested in the position, committee Chairwoman Ann Baker said, and only he showed up at Monday’s Borough Council meeting to be considered for appointment.
"This town ought to look into itself and ask where are all the people who have so much to say all the time, but will not step up to the plate. I’m devastated by this," Councilwoman Pat Moser said, while praising Mr. Silverstein as a "good guy."
It is not unusual to have apathy in Roosevelt politics most candidates run unchallenged and Ms. Baker noted it is often difficult to find candidates or appointees.
Councilman Mike Hamilton, however, said it was better to have one person familiar to the council than three choices with questionable political stances.
"I know the kinds of things Bob Silverstein stand for. I know he looks to make peace and I know we certainly need some of that on this council," Mr. Hamilton said.
In many ways, Roosevelt is a divided town of late. The new yeshiva on Homestead Lane was bitterly opposed by many residents and pitted the supporters and opponents against each other in a fight that played out in public this fall. The aftermath has left noticeable rifts in the small borough.
The yeshiva’s arrival and a perceived conflict of interest by Mayor Neil Marko, who was trustee of the school’s host Anshei Roosevelt Synagogue, also played a part in the recall movement against the mayor. Mayor Marko, who denies any conflict, is up for recall on Feb. 7.

