Bursting with political prideEast Rockaway party announces candidates for March election

      A resident of East Rockaway for the past five years, Villacci grew up in neighboring Lynbrook and attended local schools. "I'm a local girl all the way," she told the Herald. She is one of four children, and her parents, Agnes and Fred, still live in Lynbrook.
      Her graduation from St. Raymond parochial school led her to Sacred Heart Academy in Hempstead, and then to Molloy College in Rockville Centre, where she earned a degree in English, with a minor in music. She earned a law degree from Hofstra Law School in 1989. She is well-spoken and, according to those who know her, familiar with the workings of local government. Villacci has a history of strong leadership and a passion for serving the community.
      "I have a very strong sense of commitment and passion for service," she said. "That comes from my parents and from being an attorney. I am very involved in the Nassau County Women's Bar Association, and I have a strong sense that I can use my experience as an attorney and a leader. It's time to serve my hometown."
      Villacci served on Lynbrook's Ethics Board for eight years, as a charter member and chairwoman. She is the immediate past president of the Nassau County Women's Bar Association, a chapter of the Women's Bar Association of the State of New York. She is a WBASNY delegate and the co-chair of two committees. "Our mission is the advancement of women in the law and in society, and to promote the fair administration of justice," Villacci explained.
      Her "biggest pet" is the work she does for the Nassau County Suffolk Law Services Inc. "It is a not-for-profit agency that provides pro bono legal services to indigent and low-income people," Villacci said. "I am one of its founders, and am currently a chairperson for the advisory council."
      Villacci said she gets great satisfaction from going to the Interfaith Nutrition Network in Hempstead once a month as a volunteer from the county Women's Bar Association, and providing free guidance and legal information. "Sometimes I counsel 10 people, and other times I counsel 40," she said. " It is very rewarding."
      Villacci is an active member of St. Raymond's parish, a song leader and a member of the choir who has served on the Stewardship Council for the past five years. She is a member of the Solidality of Our Lady of the Annunciation, a Eucharist minister and, this year has taken on the job of CCD teacher of an eighth-grade class. She is also a past president of the Molloy College Alumni Association.
      Villacci sees herself as an asset to the board, bringing strong leadership qualities, an extensive knowledge of the law and a love of the village. "There are three things which I think will make me a strong trustee," she said. "I have an overwhelming respect for the residents of the village, and I know that every voice counts. The people of East Rockaway choose to live here and have a quality of life that is unique from other places. I also have a very strong passion for justice. I am able to weigh the costs and benefits of what is good for everyone. I also have my experience as an attorney, as a past leader of the bar association and in assisting in the development of the code of ethics in Lynbrook. I have a lot of skill and talent as an attorney, reviewing codes and making sure that the village laws empower the people of the village."
      Villacci feels that a woman would be an asset to the Board of Trustees. "But, woman or man, being me is the advantage," she said. "I am a straight shooter and a good team player. For me, the team is every resident of the village - from senior citizens who were born in this village, built this village and stayed, to business owners who share the same vision with the residents, to the families and their children who are our future."
      Villacci said she does not take the term "trustee" lightly. "As a trustee, I am being enlisted with protecting the village and preserving it for the future," she said. "I take that very seriously."
      She will be vying for the trustee seat being vacated by Edward Cook. As the newly formed Pride Party's first candidate in last year's election, Cook won in a virtual landslide. Pride Party President Francis Lenahan said in a statement, "Mr. Cook has served the Village Pride Party and East Rockaway village well, but his commitment to his position with Homeland Security in Washington, D.C., precludes him from seeking re-election."
      The Unity Party has yet to publicly announce its candidate for the open trustee seat, but Acting President Missy Pagliaro said that an announcement will be forthcoming.

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