BY M. JUNAID ALAM
Weprin has served two four-year terms and must give up the seat under city law.”I've loved having an impact on kids,” said Kerpen, currently on leave from his job as a math teacher at a Flushing public school, “but I want to be able to reach out and affect more people.”The Brooklyn native attended PS 230 before attending Hunter High School in Manhattan, going on to graduate magna cum laude from Boston University in 1998 with a bachelor's degree in both education and psychology.He said his interest in public service developed after he competed in a Fox reality television show in 2003 called “Paradise Hotel.” The experience earned him a bit of fame which he said was undeserved.”It gave me a sense of my 15 minutes of fame, you know, for not really doing anything at all,” he said. “The experience left me craving to do something meaningful.”Kerpen said improving the schools and boosting small businesses throughout the 23rd Council District are two of his top priorities.District 23 includes Hollis Hills, parts of Bayside, Little Neck, Fresh Meadows, Glen Oaks, New Hyde Park and Floral Park.”There are a lot of things that need fixing” in the public school system, Kerpen said, adding that one main task was to ensure that the city “recruits the brightest and most capable teachers and rewards them appropriately.”Kerpen said he also wants to see a resurgence of small business throughout the borough. As founder of the Kbuzz, a marketing firm located at the Shops at Atlas Park, the aspiring councilman said he has the experience to understand the relevant issues.”I really want to help District 23 businesses,” he said.At the same time, Kerpen also noted that he has been active in the teacher's union and is therefore sympathetic to both sides of the labor-business dynamic.”Although he lacks the traditional political background of many Council candidates, Kerpen remains unfazed.”No, I'm not really intimidated by it,” said the candidate, who has dubbed himself “The Unpolitician.”He raised $10,000 at a Dec. 15 fund-raiser held at Trattoria Lucia in Bellerose and said he is expanding his campaign staff to include volunteers who will conduct surveys across the district's neighborhoods.”We are going to do a survey from all the neighborhoods to see what people think the issues are,” he said. “I don't think anyone's really done that before.”Reach reporter M. Junaid Alam by e-mail at malam@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300 Ext 174.
