Amy Ko-Tang
Re-elect for a Three Year Term
Amy is a community organizer and current Fort Lee Board of Education member focused on education, school finance, and civic engagement. She has organized cultural celebrations, community events, and workshops for the Chinese American community in Fort Lee, launched the district’s first scholarship program for local Chinese American high school students, and built partnerships with organizations like AAPI NJ. Her advocacy is rooted in her parents’ experience as immigrants whose long work hours and language barriers kept them from accessing the resources meant to serve them—an experience that drives her commitment to helping other immigrant families thrive.
Amy spent nearly 20 years in financial services across Institutional Equity Capital Markets, Foreign Exchange, and Fixed Income before transitioning to the public sector. She worked with Holy Name’s Asian Patient Services, a pioneering program providing culturally appropriate healthcare to North Jersey’s underserved Asian population. She previously served as a Business Analyst for the Carlstadt East Rutherford Regional Board of Education and currently serves as Assistant Business Administrator for the Tenafly Board of Education.
She holds a B.A. (Honors) in Economics from the University of Chicago and an M.B.A. from the Tuck School of Business. Amy has been named a Local Luminary by SignUpGenius and a Civic Champion by the Kiwanis Club of Fort Lee. An avid runner, she has completed all six World Marathon Majors and the Vermont 100 Mile ultramarathon and Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc 100K ultramarathon—experiences that reflect the same grit and endurance she brings to public service.
Christian Nowell
Elect for a Three Year Term
Chris Nowell has called Fort Lee home for more than 13 years. He is a cyclist, runner, gardener, and advocate for safer streets, better transportation options, and climate action. Originally from Hopatcong, NJ, Chris earned a B.S. in Natural Resource Management from Rutgers University and an M.S. in Secondary Science Education from Queens College. He spent more than 13 years teaching middle and high school science and has also been a Teacher Leader with the Raritan Valley Community College Science Education Institute. He spent a year substitute teaching in all of the Fort Lee district’s schools, getting to know students, families, and staff throughout the community.
Chris has stayed involved in education and community issues outside the classroom. He co-founded Bergen County Complete Streets and founded and chairs the Fort Lee Mayor’s Active Transportation Advisory Committee. He currently works as Assistant Manager of Bicycle and Pedestrian Programs at EZ Ride, a regional Transportation Management Association, where he coordinates Safe Routes to School programs and works with schools and municipalities on pedestrian and bicycle safety.
Chris also spent a year in Japan as an Assistant English Teacher and continues to travel regularly to Japan and Korea. In 2026, he was recognized as a Kiwanis Civic Champion for his community service. His priorities include keeping our streets safe by improving walking and biking infrastructure, encouraging active transportation, and strengthening our schools’ focus on critical thinking and problem-solving, particularly in science and other STEM subjects.
Candace Romba
Elect for a Three Year Term
Many of you may know Candace or recognize her from the different hats she has worn in town. Candace grew up in Fort Lee and has lived here almost all her life. She attended Madonna School and is a proud graduate of Fort Lee High School—Go Bridgemen! She has been married for 40 years and has four grown children that have gone through the Fort Lee school district.
She began her teaching career at Hooks Lane School in Fort Lee for 19 years, many of her first students are now policemen, teachers, DPW workers in Fort Lee. She continued her career in Ridgefield Park where she has been teaching 3-5 year olds, and reached the 25 year milestone this year.
As a former Fort Lee Education Board member for over nine years and a past President and Vice President, Candace is truly familiar with what this work entails and how to create positive collaboration to focus on the right priorities and get them done well. During her tenure as a FLBOE board member, she earned her qualifications as a NJSBA Certified Board Member, a NJSBA Master Board Member, and a NJSBA Certified Board Leader. Also, she is a member of the All Schools Special Needs Board and member of Help-A-Child-Smile Board. The needs of teachers, students, and families are near and dear in her professional and personal life.
