D’Esposito, Naudus and Hassett vie for trustee seats

Island Park residents will be able to vote for two trustees next week.

Incumbents Steve D’Esposito and Irene Naudus, who are seeking their fifth and second full terms, respectively, are being challenged by write-in candidate Laura Hassett for a four-year term as Village Trustee.

Elections will be held on March 20 from noon to 9 p.m. Residents in District No. 1 (south of the center line of Sagamore Road) can vote at Village Hall, located at 127 Long Beach Road. Residents in District No. 2 (north of the center line of Sagamore Road) can vote at the Firemen’s Exempt Building, located at 432 Long Beach Road.

Voting for a write-in candidate isn’t something that comes up often for many voters.

The village uses the lever-style voting machines in its elections. To vote for a write-in candidate, voters must slide the small panel towards the top of the machine aside. This will reveal a small piece of paper where voters can write the name of the candidate they wish to vote for. However, it’s very important that voters spell the name of their intended candidate correctly: John Smith is technically a different person than Jon Smith, even if the intent was to vote for the same person.

And remember: if you ever have any questions about how to vote, don’t be afraid to ask the poll workers at your location. They are there to help.

Question: The Little Beach is disappearing. What will you do to combat the erosion?

D’Esposito and Naudus: For the past several years, we’ve worked hard with our village Board to reduce the erosion of the “Little Beach.” Under our leadership, the village has coordinated efforts with the Army Corps of Engineers, FEMA, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and the Town of Hempstead in order to reduce the erosion caused by Mother Nature.

We’ve also recently moved forward with replacing the original bulkhead at the Little Beach.  Just days after Hurricane Irene, the Village Board inspected the village with FEMA in order to secure federal aid to assist us in preventing further erosion not only on the Little Beach, but also on Masone Beach.

Hassett: I would consult with the Army Corps of Engineers and other environmental government agencies in effort to slow the erosion process. My biggest concern is protecting the homes and property of the people who live in that neighborhood. Reinforcing the bulk heading or a barrier wall could help protect the property of our citizens.

Resident Question: What will you do to improve the incomplete and outdated village website?