Rayna Laiosa

I, Rayna Laiosa, am running for re-election as your Ward 2 Councilwoman.  I’m a lifelong resident of Hawthorne and have been married for 27 years to my husband, Edward Van Gunst.  We have a daughter, Kaitlyn, who is graduating from Lincoln Middle School. and will attend Hawthorne High School.  

The Hawthorne school system provided a solid foundation for my B.S. in Environmental Science from Richard Stockton College of New Jersey, and my M.E. in Environmental Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology.  I previously served as a Hawthorne Board of Education trustee.  I have over twenty years of experience in environmental, health, & safety consulting and corporate management, with particular focus on compliance and policy.  With my environmental background, I’ve provided valuable expertise and guidance to my council colleagues and the administration, over the last four years.  I am a key member of the finance committee and currently Vice President of the Council.  I’m very proud and honored to be Hawthorne’s 1st female Council Vice President.  As your councilwoman, I represent ALL of the people of our great community. 

In 2022, I was recognized for my efforts as an environmental leader, and appointed to the Association of the New Jersey Environmental Commission (ANJEC), serving on the Board of Trustees as a representative of the Hawthorne Environmental Commission/Green Team. In 2023, I was nominated to the ANJEC Executive Board as Vice President and recently awarded the Enterprising Women in Commerce Award in the Environmental category from Commerce Industry Association of New Jersey (CIANJ). Since 2008, I have been an active member of the Passaic County Brownfield Commission, advocating for Hawthorne’s Brownfield sites. I have the knowledge and the experience to get things done by working with local and county governments to resolve issues and move Hawthorne forward.

As your Councilwoman from January 2020 to present, I have:

• Supported the creation of the Hawthorne Police Department’s Traffic Bureau.

• Addressed quality of life issues, such as: speeding, improving pedestrian crosswalks, reducing truck traffic, ensuring fair equity for residents and businesses with the property tax assessment, improving our garbage and recycling services, and initiating the hiring of a professional landscaper for the Municipal Building and the Louis Bay 2nd Library & Community Center.

• Actively supported and promoted our local businesses during and after the COVID pandemic.

• Initiated Hawthorne’s application for the NJ Infrastructure Bank for Water Utility projects.

• Committed to improvements of Hawthorne’s recreation complexes and open spaces for our Hawthorne youth.

• Continued to work with the Administration on remediating the Pan Chemical site into a viable commercial property for Hawthorne.

• Led the efforts to designate 55 Schoon Avenue to an Area of Re Development for Industrial Use for a developer to remediate and develop the property to a viable taxable ratable for Hawthorne.

• Supported and advocated for our first responders and their needs – Police, Fire, and EMS.

I’ve listened to your concerns, and can assure you that they are being addressed. You have a Voice on Council.

For those who know me, my nickname is “Ms. Persistence.” I have, and will continue to listen to community concerns and ideas on how we can make our great community of Hawthorne better for everyone. My promise to you is that I will do everything in my power to sustain and continuously improve our community in 2024 and beyond.