Young council president swears in younger brother

While his classmates at Elmwood Park High School scrimmaged at football practice several days a week, Daniel Golabek tackled local politics.

The teenager learned about the Democratic process at the school board and council meetings he attended regularly. He absorbed the intricacies of tax cuts and school aid.

Now age 22 and a student at Seton Hall Law School, he admits his hobby may have seemed odd. "Obviously it's not natural for a teen to go to town meetings every week. But my parents supported my passion and drove me."

That support paid off. At age 18, Daniel won a seat on the Board of Education by an impressive margin and, in 2016, he served as vice president of the board.

Then last January, he joined the Elmwood Park Council, becoming one of the youngest council members in the state.

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Last week, he was appointed council president, making him the youngest ever to hold that post in Bergen County, he surmises.

Now his younger brother, Jakub, is following in his footsteps. The 21-year-old Montclair State University student was sworn in Monday night to the Board of Education. Daniel held the Bible for him at the ceremony, just as Jakub did at Daniel's swearing in to the council the week before.

Jakub says "Just being around him I got interested" in local government.

The brothers are 13 months apart and share many of the same friends. "We spend a lot of time together," said Daniel. They both live at home with their mother, Agnes, a nurse practicioner, who is divorced. Their father, Piotr, lives in Garfield.

Over the years, Jakub observed his brother's activism and became his champion. "He would attend the more controversial Board of Education meetings that he knew I planned to speak at," Daniel recalled.

But in recent years, Jakub became more intrigued by community issues. "He would often ask a lot of questions about the meetings," said Daniel.

Daniel encouraged him to attend Board of Education, Council and local Democratic club meetings. Jakub followed his brother's advice.

In November's election, he earned 1,135 votes, beating out two older candidates. He was elected along with Dorin Aspras, who had 889 votes, and Douglas DeMatteo, who had 1,080 votes.

In his new position, Jakub hopes to provide children "with opportunities to pursue their dreams." High on his agenda is raising test scores.

"Compared to neighboring districts, we are a little behind. Maybe we could use more after-school programs, maybe more SAT prep classes," he suggested.

"I think we have a great administration and great teachers. I just think we haven't reached our full potential."

But for now, at least, he aims to learn the ropes of being a board member, he said.

Daniel has a lot on his council agenda: He wants to improve the aesthetics of the business district, pursue green acres grants and try to bring in more ratables to lower taxes. A long-term goal is to extend Artesian Fields, a county park, to the marina on the Passaic River. "We should have a river walk where people can walk and run — other towns have miles of it."

But with two brothers serving in such important roles, is there a perception of nepotism? Most town leaders interviewed don't see one. But if the council votes on a Board of Education issue, Daniel will have to abstain, said Elmwood Park Mayor Frank Caramagna, who added: "I don't see anything wrong with it. This is volunteer work."

Board of Education members get no salary while council members get a $5,000 annual stipend.

Caramagna said he's gratified to see the younger generation so passionate about helping the town.

"Daniel learns fast. He knows more than some of the people who have been on the council for years," he said. "He does a lot of research. Many of us go to him with questions."

As for Jakub, former school board President Jeanne Freitag said his youth was no disadvantage. "When someone comes on the board, there's always a learning curve. But I'm sure he will be successful." She pointed out that Jakub was the highest vote-getter of all the candidates in the election.

"His youth, his name and his family is well known in town."

Their mother, Agnes Golabek, said she was unsurprised when, as a teenager, Daniel asked her to drive him to city meetings. "He always appeared to be more mature than his peers," she said. "Since he was a child he always wanted to have the last word in discussions." And, as Daniel admits, "I didn't have the typical interests of a high schooler."

When he campaigned for a seat on the school board, at first she thought he was too young. "But he proved he could handle it and did very nicely," she said.

Jakub was a different type of kid — more athletic, more outgoing. She attributed his interest in community activism in part to seeing his brother's success.

"I'm very proud of them, not only for their service to the community but for the men they have become," she said. That, and their happiness, she said, is the goal of every mother.

Raising them alone and working full time, she said, "I did the best I could, the best I knew how. I was a first-generation immigrant from Poland. I was trying to establish my life and career. But I always tried to pass on my values and serve as a good example to them."

Email: yellin@northjersey.com