FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Captain Bill Sheehan, Riverkeeper and Executive Director

Hackensack, NJ – Despite having retired from public office last year, William "Pat" Schuber won yet another election on February 5 when he was elected to the Board of Trustees of Hackensack Riverkeeper. "I knew that when Pat left office, it didn't mean he was leaving public life," said Capt. Bill Sheehan, the organization's Executive Director, "we feel that Pat's the right man for the job and we're very happy that this new chapter in his life includes Hackensack Riverkeeper." Capt. Sheehan first approached Mr. Schuber in January with the idea of his becoming a Trustee; something that Mr. Schuber said he would be "both happy and honored to accept."

Mr. Schuber, a lifelong public servant who retired from politics last year after serving three terms as Bergen County Executive, resides in Oradell and is Professor of Government at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Among his many accomplishments over a long career, Mr. Schuber is perhaps most proud of his open space legacy. During his tenure as County Executive, thousands of acres were added to Bergen County's northern tier of parks, most notably Camp Tamarack in Oakland and Camp Glen Gray in Mahwah. During his 1998 re-election campaign, Mr. Schuber made the passage of the Bergen County Open Space Trust Fund a central focus. It was approved by a 2-1 margin.

"Now perhaps Pat can help us secure a "southern tier" in the Meadowlands," said Capt. Sheehan.

Also recently elected to the Board of Hackensack Riverkeeper was Ms. Nancy Wysocki of Haworth, a longtime activist and open space preservation advocate. Her credentials include a position on the Haworth Environmental Commission and leadership positions in both the Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions (ANJEC) and the League of Women Voters. "Nancy has been a friend and colleague of Hackensack Riverkeeper from the beginning," said Capt. Sheehan, "She's a tireless worker and perhaps the best example of the kind of person a Trustee should be."

With a new Meadowlands Master Plan that removes virtually all development pressure from wetlands there, Hackensack Riverkeeper plans to shift a good deal of its focus from the Meadowlands to the upper watershed. "The experience and expertise of our new Trustees will surely be called upon in dealing with United Water and with towns that are caught between the ratables chase and the desires of their citizens for open space protection," said Capt. Sheehan.

Mr. Schuber and Ms. Wysocki join a Board that includes Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., noted environmental attorney and President of the Waterkeeper Alliance; Margaret Utzinger, founder of the Hackensack River Coalition; Susan Gordon, Tenafly Environmental Commissioner and member of the Palisades Interstate Park Citizens Advisory Committee; Alice Allured, Secaucus community leader, Ivan Kossak, Certified Public Accountant and expert birder; Ellie Spray, Director of Catering for Whole Foods, Inc. and trained marine biologist; and Catherine Morrow, retired executive and dedicated patron of local, regional and global environmental organizations.

Regarding Mr. Schuber, who for a long time was one of the most powerful Republicans in New Jersey, Capt. Sheehan said, "There were lots of times when Pat and I were at odds over issues and many other times when we were in agreement but two things never changed - the respect I had for him and the respect he had for Hackensack Riverkeeper."

Founded in 1997, Hackensack Riverkeeper is the leading environmental organization
working on Hackensack River issues.