By:Karenlyn Barone
In a surprise move, the Lynbrook Independent Party nominated a virtual newcomer instead of the two-term incumbent to run for a village seat in the next election.
The village's long-standing party nominated Richard Clifford, rather than incumbent Kevin Kelly, by an overwhelming majority. Clifford, a retired New York Police Department lieutenant who sits on the village's Architectural Review Board, said he was honored to accept the nomination. "I was invited by the Lynbrook Independent Party Screening Committee to interview," said the 46-year-old. "To be honored in this way by my fellow community members is a feeling that I cannot describe."
Clifford, a 20-year resident of Lynbrook, was recognized by the party as someone who has common sense, real-world knowledge, management skills, objectivity and a long list of organization affiliations. During his 22-year career with the NYPD, he was an instructor at the Police Academy, started the department's first computer training school, was in charge of academic assessments of other officers and police personnel, and dealt with special operations, where he was responsible for setting up community partnerships to deal with gang activity, drug and alcohol abuse and other quality-of-life issues.
"It was my job to find out what was bothering the community, and to then formulate municipal government, law enforcement and the community groups who worked to fix the problem together," Clifford explained. He also formed a new borough command in Queens, where he was personnel and human relations lieutenant for 3,000 uniformed and civilian police-department employees.
About his bid for the village trustee seat, Clifford said, "I decided it was now time, and I have the time, to give back to the community I have enjoyed living in."
As a member of the Architectural Review Board, Clifford is involved in the aesthetics of home remodeling and building. The five board members are appointed by the mayor. "What's real exciting about being on the Architectural Review Board is to see new homeowners spend $350,000 to $400,000 on a home in Lynbrook, only to spend another $100,000 to make the improvements they desire," said Clifford. "Some even demolish an old home to build a new home in its place, just so they can live in Lynbrook."
Clifford is formulating an agenda should he win the election in March. "I would like to see ongoing community involvement, partnered with the village government and the municipal services that we provide," he said. "I want to work not only to make Lynbrook attractive to new residents, but to make it overly attractive for our established residents to stay here and be as active as long as they desire." He also said he would like to "establish strong, workable partnerships between the police department, school districts, students, parents and the village government."
Clifford is candid about what he feels he would bring to the board as a village trustee. "A proven problem solver, being accessible to the community is paramount," he said. "As a retired individual. I have the time to dedicate to my community, and I accept the challenge with enthusiasm and dedication."
Clifford is an active member of Our Lady of Peace Roman Catholic Church, The Fraternal Order of Police, the FBI's National Academy of Associates, the American Society for Industrial Security, the Retired Lieutenants Benevolent Association, the New York 10/13 Association and the International Investigators Association. "I have a great deal of training and background that can serve the community, to improve our quality-of-life issues in Lynbrook," said Clifford, who is married and has one child.
The incumbent, Kelly, has been addressing quality-of-life issues as a member of the village board for the past 12 years, having previously served on the board of the Lynbrook library. At the time, Kelly remembered, the soon-to-be mayor, Eugene Scarpato, said he would be "perfect for the job."
While his failure to get the party nod startled most observers, Kelly said he was not surprised at all. "The vote was horribly against me on the membership floor," he told the Herald. "But I wasn't surprised. Because of my opposition to the 250-unit hotel proposal with a five-story, walled, garage from Forest to Earle Avenue, the mayor sought to find someone more in line with what he has envisioned for the village."
Mayor Scarpato contends that, "we don't even have a proposal on the table for that, yet."
Kelly admits he was against the idea of a hotel of that size from the get-go. "We all want lower taxes, and the mayor is doing the best he can to lower them," he said. "But at what expense?
"I kept telling the mayor to give me something smaller to consider, but the mayor has a vision that the hotel will drive up business in the village, and I don't share that view. I am not anti-progress, but a 250-unit hotel right in the middle of downtown Lynbrook? We don't need it!"
Kelly would not comment on Clifford, other than to say he knows him to be a good guy, and Clifford returned the compliment. Kelly, of course, has the option to run in the election as an independent, but for the time being he is keeping his cards close to his chest. "There are a lot of people telling me to run," he said. "I listen to the people - I work for the people, not the Independent Party. I'm considering running. All I have to do is get my message out to the people: 'Let me protect you.'"
Along with Clifford's nomination, LIP President Gary Pazmann announced that sitting Village Trustee Morrey Forman was renominated for his position. Joining them on the LIP ticket is sitting Village Justice Maurice Ornstein, who will be running for another four-year term.
Forman, who was first elected to the village board in 1997, replaced then-Trustee Robert Barra, who is now a state assemblyman. Asked why he is seeking a third term, Forman said, "The Independent Party had continually encouraged and supported my nomination for another term, and there is work to be done. We started some wonderful projects, and there are projects currently under way that I want to see finished."
Forman holds master's and doctoral degrees in public administration and is a tenured faculty member at C.W. Post, where he teaches graduate school. He served for eight years on the New York state Division of Criminal Justice Services, currently sits on the board of the Nathan Hale Senior Village, and owns a property management company in Baldwin. He has also served as a consultant to the federal Department of Justice, the state Department of Labor and the Governor's Office of Employee Relations. Forman is often referred to as "the voice of reason on the board" by many residents.
"There are many sides to an issue, and sometimes people don't let themselves understand the issue before they decide," Forman said. "My philosophy has always been to examine all aspects of an issue before you reach a conclusion, and to let all sides be heard, because sometimes the best ideas come from the least likely source."
Forman's vision for the village has never wavered. "We must continue making Lynbrook a very special place to live and work and play," he said. "And we must continue to build a strong home ownership and business development."
Mayor Scarpato, Deputy Mayor Thomas Miccio and Trustee William Hendrick - also members of the Lynbrook Independent Party - are the other sitting village officials, and their terms run through March 2007.
Comments about this story? KBarone@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 202
