Complied by Cindy J. Roth
Joseph F. Carrigan
Position sought: Mayor.
Current position: Deputy mayor. Was elected as an East Rockaway Village Trustee in 1997 and 2001. Appointed deputy mayor in 2001.
Political party: Independent under the East Rockaway Unity Party.
Community involvement: Member and Ex-Chief of the East Rockaway Fire Department with 44 years of service; Lifetime member of the East Rockaway Rescue Squad; Member of the East Rockaway American Legion Post 958; Former Vice Commander of the East Rockaway VFW Post 3350; Founder and current treasurer of the East Rockaway Raiders Midget Football League; Retired East Rockaway postmaster; Treasurer of East Rockaway Desert Storm Support Our Troops Committee; Former member of the East Rockaway Recreation Commission; Kiwanis Club member; and also involved in various fundraising activities for fraternal and charitable organizations in the village.
Reason for running: So much has been accomplished in the past six years with the refurbishing and beautification of East Rockaway that I want to continue with the wonderful work at hand and the many projects that are still to come, and continue in the betterment and improvement of the quality of life for all of our residents.
Accomplishments while in office: As a member of the East Rockaway Village Board for the past six years, we have accomplished some wonderful projects and many more are scheduled to be completed in the near future. I was instrumental in redesigning our beautiful Veterans Memorial at Village Hall with the addition of six new flagpoles and flags representing the five branches of the Armed Forces and one flag representing our MIA's. As liaison to the Beautification Committee, great progress has been made to beautify our village. Projects at Village Hall, the library, Grist Mill Museum, Minore Park, Legion Triangle, the Department of Public Works and the senior center were completed and new projects are now underway. The first phase of Operation Downtown is complete, with new sidewalks, street lighting and benches in place on Main Street, between Rhame Avenue and Front Street. Our waterfront revitalization project is in progress and scheduled for completion in 2004. This project includes new bulkheads and boat slips with floating docks at Talfor Boat Basin and White Canon Point. We will also be refurbishing the parking lot and park-like area from the station, south to Atlantic Avenue.
How long live in village: Lifelong resident.
Age: 70
Education: High school graduate.
Current employment: Retired.
Military service: Four years in the U.S. Navy aboard the attack aircraft carrier U.S.S. Coral Sea during the Korean conflict.
Family: Married to Herma with three children, Joanne, Joseph and James.
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Richard Meagher
Position sought: Trustee.
Current position: Village trustee. Was elected trustee in 1991 and 1999.
Political party: Member of the East Rockaway Unity Party.
Community involvement: Former 13-year member of East Rockaway Board of Education; President of East Rockaway Kiwanis; President of East Rockaway Education Foundation; Founding president of the Education Foundation, the East Rockaway Unity Party and the East Rockaway High School Alumni Association.
Reason for running: I have been honored to serve for the past four years as a trustee under the leadership of Mayor Charles H. Formont. As an active participant on the village board, I have helped to create the multiple pieces of what I call "the Formont Legacy." But the tasks and challenges of village government are ongoing and, indeed, never ending. I believe I would continue to play a useful role for the following four years under the leadership of mayoral candidate Joseph Carrigan and have therefore decided to seek re-election as a trustee. I bring experience and a high energy level to the position. Although I pride myself on being a team player, I am also an independent thinker and am not hesitant to speak my mind on the issues of the day.
Accomplishments while in office: Operation Downtown, Talfor Boat Basin revitalization and library, DPW building, senior center and John Street baseball complex renovation and expansion. Also the additional of a new recreation department building and fire headquarters.
How long live in village: Lifelong resident.
Age: 64
Education: Bachelor of Arts and Masters Degree from Long Island University-Brooklyn Center. Education degree from Teachers College of Columbia University.
Current employment: Retired.
Military service: None.
Family: Widower with four children, John, Richard Jr., Gail Ann and Heather.
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Edward T. Sieban
Position sought: Trustee.
Current position: Village trustee. Was elected trustee in 1999.
Political party: Member of the East Rockaway Unity Party.
Community involvement: Member of the East Rockaway Kiwanis Club; Vice President and counsel for the East Rockaway Education Foundation; Knights of Columbus -- Msgr. Walsh Council member; Member of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Long Island; Member of the Irish Americans in Government; and member of the Catholic Lawyers Guild.
Reason for running: To continue the great work and improvements that are being made in the village. I also want to continue to improve the quality of life for all village residents especially our youth and senior citizens by expanding our facilities and programs for these groups.
Accomplishments while in office: During the last six years, the village has made impressive strides. Phase One of Operation Downtown and the renovation of the Talfor Boat Basin commenced. The new recreation department facility opened, and in conjunction with local volunteers, the John Street ballfield was upgraded. Village departments, including the Department of Public Works and Fire Department, received new equipment to enhance the services they provide to the residents. Upgrades and improvements were made to the technological and informational equipment for the Office of Emergency Management. Additionally, FEMA declared East Rockaway a "project impact" community. Both of these measures increased the protection and security of our village. The senior citizen center was enlarged, more than doubling the meeting space and our Veterans Memorial was completely renovated.
How long live in village: 10 years.
Age: 41
Education: Bachelor of Science in accounting from St. John's University and Juris Doctor from New York Law School.
Current employment: Lawyer, executive assistant at the Town of Hempstead and adjunct professor at St. John's University.
Military service: None.
Family: Married to Thea with four children, Edward III, Thea, Elizabeth and Thomas.
Lynbrook Candidates
The Village of Lynbrook will hold its mayoral and trustee elections on Tuesday, March 18. There are two trustee seats and the mayor position up for election. Gene Scarpato is running unopposed for mayor for his third term and incumbent trustees William Hendrick and Thomas Miccio are also running unopposed for trustee seats.
Gene Scarpato
Position sought: Mayor.
Current position: Elected mayor in 1995 and 1999.
Political party: Member of the Lynbrook Independent Party
Community involvement: Member of Knights of Columbus; Elks; Nassau County Village Officials Association; and serves on Board of Directors for the Peninsula Counciling Association.
Reason for running: I jumped into this position eight years ago because I was at odds with how my village was beginning to look. It wasn't people oriented or business friendly. I felt I could change the climate a bit and I am pleased to be able to say that my board of trustees has clearly turned the corner on that goal. So you might say, if you turned the corner, why run again? The answer is, first of all, I enjoy the opportunity to help people's lives to become more fruitful. I find the job as a wonderful opportunity to give back what this community has offered my family over the past 42 years. My children were well educated and were given good values to pass on to their own families. For the most part it has been because of the middle class, hard working people who live here. For my family, and me it has been the best of climates and the best economic mixture.
From the very first day I took office as mayor, our business community, who clearly needed a village government partner, adopted me and have supported me in so many ways that I feel obligated to continue that partnership and hopefully will be able to finish the job of creating a thriving business community who in turn will enhance our budget woes. This will be our second mayoral election that is unopposed. Hopefully, that means that our residents approve most of what we try to do. With that silent mandate, I feel obligated to finish the job I started eight years ago, which includes the improvement of our infrastructure, finishing recreation improvements, attacking the parking shortage and finally, continuing to be an accessible and responsive mayor for four more years.
Accomplishments while in office: From day one, we brought live television into village homes of all our village board meetings. We established a yearly budget line of about $1.5 million to gradually redo or improve the streets and parking fields in the village, and to date have completed about 70 percent of these. We secured grants and used village money, along with encouraging our commercial partners to form a bid program for the purpose of revitalizing our downtown. In recreation we created a new soccer field, a kiddy sprinkler park, a state of the art three pool complex, revitalized our pre-school complex, created a full-sized roller hockey league and secured grants for the construction of an official little league baseball diamond. We are presently completing a $2.8 million Department of Public Works facility and reconstructed the Village Police Department facility. In the arts we support the Society for the Encouragement of the Arts in Lynbrook program, which presents four to six highly talented programs each year in the library concert hall. Most of all, we created a sense of pride for our residents. Our home values have sky rocketed and Lynbrook is getting younger as children stay in Lynbrook once they are married so that their children can benefit from the fruits of a village revitalized.
How long live in village: 42 years.
Age: 71
Education: Bachelor of Arts from St. John's University in accounting.
Current employment: AVON Press
Military service: U.S. Marine Corp - Korean Conflict.
Family: Married to Virginia Ann with five children and 10 grandchildren.
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William J. Hendrick
Position sought: Trustee.
Current position: Village trustee. Was elected trustee in 1989, 1995 and 1999.
Political party: Republican. Member of the Lynbrook Independent Party.
Community involvement: Boy Scouts of America; Knights of Columbus; Elks; and associate member of Lynbrook Engine Company No. 1 and Lynbrook Medical Company.
Reason for running: I enjoy serving the community that myself and family reside within.
Accomplishments while in office: Actively involved in the Downtown Business Improvement District initiative and working with the Lynbrook Medical Company to secure grants to build a new Rescue Fire House.
How long live in village: 27 years.
Age: 50
Education: Bachelor of Arts from Hofstra University, Masters degree from St. John's University and Juris Doctor from Brooklyn Law School.
Current employment: Attorney.
Military service: None.
Family: Separated with two children.
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Thomas Miccio
Position sought: Trustee.
Current position: Village trustee. Was elected trustee in 1991, 1995 and 1999.
Political party: Member of the Lynbrook Independent party.
Community involvement: Formerly coached soccer for Lynbrook Soccer League and CYO Basketball; and Elks member.
Reason for running: I've been in office 12 years and we accomplished a great deal and there is more we need to do. I want to continue what we've been doing under the Scarpato administration.
Accomplishments while in office: Project director of the construction of Lynbrook Village Pool. Heavily involved in the budget process over the last 12 years where we've streamlined some of our budget procedures. I oversee the recreation area and we've been expanding programs in the recreation department over the years. I've also been involved in the village insurance program and the formation of the village municipal gas and electric utilities.
How long live in village: Lifelong resident.
Age: 47
Education: Bachelors degree in accounting from St. John's University.
Current employment: Certified public accountant.
Military service: None.
Family: Married to Marie with two children, Mark, 14, and Katherine, 11.
