Jack Alter

In Fort Lee, Jack Alter will be remembered as a devoted mayor to this two and a half square mile town just across the George Washington Bridge from Manhattan. During his term, he convinced Leona Helmsley to sell a tract of land for Centuria, what officials have said is the biggest development project in the town’s history. He ushered in new police station, a community center, park restoration, and stood up to the Port Authority about the impact the bridge was having on his little town.

But as local officials and politicians reflected on Alter’s term as mayor after his unexpected death this morning, not far from everyone’s minds was that inevitable question: who will take his place?

Jack AlterJack Alter, the Mayor of Fort Lee and a former Commissioner of the Board of Public Utilities, died this morning. Further details to follow.

Council President Ila Kasofsky, who is now Acting Mayor, said last week denied reports that Alter did not suffer a heart attack, but would have some corrective surgery this week.

A Democrat, Alter was elected to the Fort Lee Council in 1989 and became Mayor in 1992. He is aseeking re-election to a sixth term as Mayor this fall. Democratic County Committee members in Fort Lee will need to meet within the next two weeks to select a new candidate for Mayor.

Alter was serving as a Bergen County Freeholder when Gov. James E. McGreevey named him to the BPU In 2002.