Marlboro resident accepts new role: deputy mayor
Paul Abelow wants to help improve town he's lived in since 2001
BY REBECCA MORTON
Staff Writer

Paul Abelow

MARLBORO - Paul Abelow is a husband and father, the owner of a marketing and sales company, a volunteer firefighter and ambulance driver, and Marlboro's new deputy mayor.

Abelow was sworn in as Marlboro's deputy mayor/director of community relations on June 14.

At the time, Mayor Robert Kleinberg said there are many community initiatives his administration is pursuing and he said Abelow will provide assistance with those programs.

"I want to give back to the community. It's important to be involved," Abelow said in an interview with the News Transcript last week.

As he spoke about what he would like to accomplish in the volunteer deputy mayor's position, Abelow excitedly talked about a program for teenagers

he is hoping to organize in Marlboro. The program would host regular dances.

Abelow is no stranger to working in his community. He helped form a group for teenagers in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he previously resided. The group members worked with a church that opened its doors to give teenagers a place to go.

"It helped get them off the streets and gave them something to do so they didn't go looking for trouble," Abelow explained.

He later moved to Long Beach, N.Y., and continued his community involvement. Abelow is a trustee for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and is still involved with the Queens, N.Y., chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Abelow and his family moved to Marlboro in 2001.

"I fell in love," he said. "I love the town, it's a great place, the people are great."

Soon after Abelow moved to Marlboro a local police officer suggested that he join the Robertsville Volunteer Fire Company, Route 520. He attended and graduated from the Monmouth County Fire Academy, Howell, and has been a member of the Robertsville fire company for five years.

As a local volunteer firefighter, Abelow visits schools in the area and teaches children about fire prevention.

"We do a lot of work, especially with the young children. We shake hands with them before we put on all of our gear and then after we put it on. We want to eliminate their fear and let them know it's the same man underneath so that God forbid if there's a fire they will come to us," he explains.

He describes this aspect of his work as his pride and joy. Abelow is also a first responder for the Morganville First Aid and Rescue Squad, Tennent Road.

Abelow said he became interested in politics because he wants to know what is going on in the town he lives in.

"As a resident of this town I want what's best for my children and for the town," he said.

Abelow and his wife, Sandra, have two sons, Andrew, 7, and Ryan, 4.

He said he met Kleinberg and the members of the Township Council by attending meetings.

He said Kleinberg "seemed like a good honest guy. He has integrity. The council members seem to be doing a good job."

Abelow said he will act as a liaison with Marlboro's senior citizens to get a handle on their needs. He also wants to organize dances for teenagers.

"The town has a lot of programs for younger kids, but the 14-, 15- and 16-year-olds need something, too," he said. "I'm not political, I'm a helper. I just want what's best for the community."