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Laurel for Council 2002
106 North Sixth Avenue, Highland Park, NJ 08904
Phone: (732) 985-6878
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Introduction
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My name is Laurel Kornfeld, and I will be running for the Democratic nomination for Borough Council in June 2002. For nearly six years, I have served the Highland Park community with perseverance, determination and dedication. My first priority will be to address the concerns of our residents, and to implement programs that will benefit the growth and prosperity of our community. By focusing on the individual needs of the residents, I hope to improve civil participation and help our community flourish. |
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Background Information
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I grew up in Highland Park and have lived in the borough since December 1969. My childhood memories are filled with fond images of summer camp in Donaldson Park and the Highland Park Public Library's reading club. My father participated in the campaign of former Mayor Harold Berman during the 1970s, and it is from my family that I learned the value of political participation. I graduated from Highland Park High School in 1983.
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Education
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I graduated from Douglass College at Rutgers University in 1987 with a BA in Journalism. A Phi Beta Kappa, I was also the valedictorian of Douglass's Class of 1987. In 1989, I obtained an MA from Harvard University in Middle East Studies. In 1998, I obtained a second Masters, an MEd in English Education from Rutgers University's Graduate School of Education. |
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Professional Experience
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Since the mid-1980s, I have worked as a freelance writer, editor, and proofreader. As an independent contractor, I do freelance journalism for various newspapers covering municipal meetings and writing features about interesting people, places, and events. Publications I write or have written for include The Courier in Monmouth County and the South Plainfield Reporter in Middlesex County. I currently write a regular op-ed column for the local Business and Entertainment Journal, frequently focusing on political issues.
I have written about Highland Park for various print and online publications since 1997 including The Highland Park Herald, The Business and Entertainment Journal, the Highland Park Today website, and my own email newsletter, Friends of Laurel, which I have edited since October 1999.
I also work as an adjunct writing educator at Raritan Valley Community College, Mercer County Community College, and Douglass College's Educational Opportunity Fund. In this capacity, I work with remedial, ESL, and other students who need one-one help with their assignments. I have worked at various colleges in this capacity since 1994. |
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Political Experience
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I have been politically active in one capacity or another since the age of 17. My background includes work in issues advocacy for the environment, nuclear disarmament, a fairer distribution of wealth, and other progressive issues.
I have been an active Democrat since 1988, when I worked for the Dukakis/Bentsen campaign in Boston in the polling and field departments. Since then, I have done media, research, and Get Out the Vote work for many campaigns at all levels including Clinton/Gore '92, Florio for Governor '93, Torricelli for Senate '96, Larry Lerner for Congress '96, Rush Holt for Congress '00, and various local and county campaigns for council, mayor, and freeholder.
My legislative and policy experience includes volunteering for Assemblyman Robert Smith and participating in the New Jersey Foster and Adoptive Family Services Legislation Committee. |
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Community Service/Organizations
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Municipal and County Government:
Highland Park Environmental Commission--Member and Secretary
Highland Park Board of Health--Member, active on Publicity and Ordinance Subcommittees
Highland Park Arts Commission--Member and Secretary
Highland Park Cable TV Volunteers Committee--scriptwriter and interviewer
Middlesex County Millennium Celebrations Committee--Member
Middlesex County Commission On The Status of Women--Member
Membership in Organizations:
Highland Park Historical Society
Friends of the Highland Park Public Library
Raritan Valley Chapter of Hadassah--Lifetime Member and Chair of American Affairs Committee
Women's Political Caucus of New Jersey
New Jersey Foster and Adoptive Family Services --Legislation Committee
Save Open Space (Highland Park)
Highland Park Bridge Builders
Contributor to the Highland Park Education Foundation
*Note: Government commissions and community service organizations are listed for informational purposes only and do not indicate an endorsement.
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Special Training
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"Ready to Run," conference for women interested in seeking public office--Center for American Woman and Politics, Eagleton Institute of Politics, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, N.J., March 2000 and March 2001
Center for Environmental Citizenship, Campaigning and Lobbying Conference, Cook College, New Brunswick, N.J., September 1997
National Jewish Democratic Council Campaign Training Seminar, Edison, N.J., September 1996
Democratic National Committee Campaign Training Academy, Press/Media Division, Somerset, N.J., April 1996 |
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