Herald Endorsement

Kaufman and Kevelson for Lawrence trustees

Posted

On Tuesday, residents in the villages of Atlantic Beach, Hewlett Bay Park, Hewlett Harbor, Hewlett Neck, Lawrence and Woodsburgh can vote for mayors and trustees, and in Lawrence, village justice.

Only Lawrence has a contested election, with four candidates running for two trustee seats: Syma Diamond, Daniel Goldstein, Uri Kaufman and Rochelle Stern Kevelson. It is an at-large election, meaning the two candidates who get the most votes will win. Goldstein and Kaufman are running as part of the Unity Party, along with Lawrence mayoral candidate and sitting Trustee Alex Edelman, who is unchallenged.

Kaufman and Kevelson are clearly the best candidates. Kaufman, who served on the Lawrence Board of Education for nine years, has a strong real estate background, and speaks candidly about privatization of the country club and about plans for the sewage plant property: the construction of a community center with an indoor pool.

Kevelson, the only candidate who attends village board meetings, has an accumulated knowledge of the village and is a longtime member of its civic organization, the Lawrence Association. He proposes a raffle to generate revenue, and wants Lawrence to create a place for residents such as seniors, widows and divorced people to meet.

Diamond, a lawyer and a mother of four, has skills the village could use. But we believe she would be better suited to serving on one of the village boards or commissions while learning more about how municipal government works.

Goldstein, a founder of the Israel-based Finance Party, has more political experience, and his real estate background could be an asset to the village. He has the potential to be a good village trustee.

But based on knowledge and experience, we urge voters to support Kaufman and Kevelson.

In the event of his likely election, Edelman will get to appoint a trustee to complete his unexpired term. We hope he chooses wisely, and selects a person who complements the board.

Though the other villages have uncontested races (story, page 3), we believe that residents who appreciate their officials’ service should vote on Tuesday to show their support.