Imagine living in a town where your local councilman is not only a dedicated member of the community, but also the proud owner of a river hippopotamus named Cindy. For the residents of Tenafly, this may soon be a reality. Dr. Aakash Shah is running for local office and wants to be your next town councilman.
After graduating from Ursinus College, obtaining master’s degrees in both policy and business administration as a Rhodes Scholar at the University of Oxford, and graduating from Harvard Medical School, Shah is ready to bring new expertise into the position of town councilman. Among his many accomplishments, he has done tremendous work for youth mental health. He has worked with the White House to address the nation’s mental health crisis as well as contributed to Governor Mikie Sherrill’s transition team to promote mental health for children and their online safety. Shah has made a large-scale impact, but still always has time to contribute to the Tenafly community. He is a regular participant in community events and also is an attendant of both council and Board of Education meetings, proving that he is deeply informed on town issues.
As the father of a four-year-old daughter, he plans on being a member of Tenafly’s community for many years to come and wants to improve our town for children, students, and young adults.
“We care. We made an investment in the community, and I want to protect that investment” Shah said.
Shah intends to use open space funding to upgrade town infrastructure and revitalize our existing public areas. He intends to build a community center that has different facilities for residents to utilize, which may act as a joint space to host more town events. Furthermore, Shah has also expressed his interest in repairing our fields. Being the parent of a future athlete, Shah knows firsthand that the quality of Tenafly sports can be improved from the very place in which they begin. “My daughter’s 4 years old. And so I, by extension, will naturally care about these sorts of things,” he said. While he strongly values older perspectives in town council, he also sees immense importance in the perspective of a new family.
When looking into the future of Tenafly, Shah sees a more unified community where everybody holds the power to contribute. “I am 100% certain that the decisions that the council will be making will affect you, and other people like you. You’ve got an incredible opportunity here to make sure that your voice is heard, so I would absolutely make the most of it” said Shah.
As far as improving the town for younger audiences, Shah intends to incorporate students into various holiday and cultural events. He also plans on creating opportunities for students that will engage them with the town, aiming to serve as a mentor for the next generation. From his experience as an ER doctor, Shah knows the importance of having strong Tenafly Volunteer Ambulance Corps (TVAC) programs. “I’ve worked on ambulances. I’ve ridden with the ambulance corps. And of course, in my day job, I’m on the receiving end of ambulances,” Shah said. “I think there’s a really natural opportunity for us to have monthly lunch and learns, office hours with TVAC, and for me to advocate for them as effectively as I can, because it’s something that’s very near and dear to my heart.”
We encourage young adults, including THS seniors who are 18 years old, to go out and vote for the first time. The election being primary means voter turnout is expected to be lower than the regular election, so every vote carries immense weight. Being a voter isn’t always about picking a side, but engaging in community and being a part of something larger than yourself. Young voices, opinions, and thoughts deserve to be heard—and voting this Tuesday, June 2, is a way to get started advocating for yourself. In Dr. Aakash Shah’s own words, if you are thinking about whether or not your vote will matter, the answer is, “unequivocally yes.”
