TEANECK – When Teaneck Mayor Lizette Parker unexpectedly passed away in April, it left the Bergen County township without a mayor. On Friday, the town council held the reorganization meeting where Mohammed Hameeduddin was named the new mayor of Teaneck.
Hameeduddin previously served as mayor in Teaneck from 2010 to 2014. He is the first Muslim-American to hold the office of mayor in Bergen County.
The new mayor was sworn in by likely 2017 Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop. Though Fulop only swore in Hameeduddin, he stayed front-and-center for the swearing in of Eli Katz as Deputy Mayor I and Henry Pruitt as Deputy Mayor II. Fulop’s appearance and prominent position during the swearing in shows the mayor’s continued resolve and strong ties in Bergen County ahead of the Democratic primary.
At the reorganization, Gervonn Romney Rice was sworn in by County Executive James Tedesco. Additionally, Freeholder Tracy Zur swore in Hameeduddin as councilman, Mu Boule swore in Pruitt and Judge James Young swore in Mark Schwartz. All councilmembers other than Romney Rice are incumbents who were reelected during the May non-partisan municipal election. Romney Rice was selected to fill Parker’s vacant seat until a new councilmember can be elected in November.
Though Hameeduddin was selected as mayor, he was not the only Teaneck councilmember nominated for the position at the reorganization meeting. Councilman Jason Castle recommended Pruitt for the job. However, Pruitt quickly declined the nomination and nominated Hameeduddin. While Katz was the only person nominated for the deputy mayor I position, Councilman Alan Sohn opted to abstain from voting for the position rather than cast a ballot for Katz.
Prior to Friday’s meeting, Katz was serving as Teaneck’s acting mayor. He had previously been deputy mayor. In May, the city council voted to create a second deputy mayor position. Hameeduddin, Katz and Pruitt will serve as mayor, deputy mayor I and deputy mayor II for two years.
Other notable attendees at the ceremony included Bergen County Clerk John Hogan and Democratic congressional district 5 candidate Josh Gottheimer.
