Religious Politics

New village trustee did not have to be Orthodox, head of Lawrence Association says

By Yaffi Spodek

The newest trustee of the Village of Lawrence is Michael Fragin. He is an investment banker, was a key aide to two New York governors and, until his appointment to government, wrote a popular political column in this newspaper. He also happens to be an Orthodox Jew, and for that his appointment earned the staunch opposition of the Lawrence Association.

Fragin’s appointment was made official in a letter he received Monday from Mayor Simon Felder. Felder appointed Fragin to fill the seat he vacated upon his swearing-in as mayor late last month. A public announcement was scheduled for Thursday evening.

Jacqueline B. Handel, president of the Lawrence Association, voiced her vehement opposition to the Fragin appointment, citing his religion as a primary reason.

“The new trustee does not have to be someone who is ultra-Orthodox,” Handel told The Jewish Star. “There are many non-religious and non-Jewish people who live in the village who could be represented.”

Fragin was dismayed to learn of Handel’s remarks.

“I think it’s irresponsible of people to create litmus tests for public office based on a person’s religious beliefs,” he responded.

“I think it’s also irresponsible for the president of the Lawrence Association to be representing the Association in that way. I find her comments to be unfortunate. That kind of litmus test, where you pray on Saturday or Sunday morning, if that is your confessional, is not appropriate for public office,” Fragin said.

Handel also shared her preference for having a female serve as trustee on what is currently a male-dominated board.

“I think it would be very nice if there was a woman appointed,” she asserted. “There have been women on the board before and half the population in the village is female.”

Handel named several people – men and women – whom she felt were more qualified for the position, based on their involvement in different sectors of the village including Jeffrey Rosenberg; Shephard Melzer, head of the Zoning Board; and Myrna Breitman, a former president of the Lawrence Association.

“I think that Michael Fragin thinks too similarly to other people on the board and will not add to the balance of the board,” Handel continued. “I think there should be a cross section of ideas and more balance among the attitudes of the people on the board.”

She also noted that Fragin, 34, is “a very young man...who has not shown an active interest in the village.”

Fragin disputed that claim, pointing out that, in fact, he has been actively involved in public service in several different capacities; he was a member of the Lawrence Association for three years and is a trustee of the Long Island Power Authority. He also volunteered as a firefighter, and a Hatzalah EMT, and worked as a high-ranking staffer in the administration of Governor George Pataki.

Fragin has been attending Village of Lawrence Trustee meetings since early 2007 and he maintains a good relationship with Felder as well as with the other board members, Judge Donald Buchalter, and Trustees Martin Oliner and Edward Klar.

One village issue about which Handel is passionate is the creation of a new library in the parking lot of the Lawrence Railroad Station, something that she says, “Felder is very much interested in. But I haven’t heard anything from Fragin suggesting that he cares for it or not.”

“In the past six years, there have been terrible conflicts in attitudes of people on the board and there have been nasty undercurrents going on to prevent things from happening,” Handel added, saying that she would like to see that change with the appointment of a new trustee.

“I think a trustee needs to be fair-minded and concerned for the common good of the residents of the Village of Lawrence,” she concluded.

Felder did not return numerous phone calls requesting comment.