By Jeff Lipton
Mangone and Rubin, running as members of the Integrity Party, were appointed earlier this year by Mayor Stephen Mahler to replace two trustees who left the board. Mangone and Rubin collected 329 and 361 votes, respectively. Simao and Finkel, who ran together under the Beach Party, received 218 and 199 votes, respectively. The seats are for two-year terms.
In a village of about 2,000 residents, 546 turned out to vote.
I'm very happy, said Rubin. I'm very satisfied. The village [residents] made a good decision. The message that came through is that we're on track, that we're doing a good job and we will continue to do a good job.
The road to the June 17 election has been a rocky one for the challengers. They prevailed after Mangone challenged their petitions as being invalid, in Nassau County Supreme Court. Judge Robert Roberto Jr. and the Nassau County Board of Elections both ruled that Simao and Finkel could remain on the June 17 ballot. During the campaign, Finkel also had to fend off questions about his residency.
Rubin was a trustee from 1992 to 1995, when he was unseated, and served as treasurer of the village from 1988 to 1992. Over the next two years, Rubin said he would like to correct problems with the roads and alleviate neighborhood flooding, as well as initiate other capital improvement projects. Mangone, who served as the village's emergency-management coordinator, said the board is working effectively and has done a wonderful job in beautifying the village.
I feel very gratified with the vote,said Mahler, who supported the campaigns of Mangone and Rubin. It's a vote of confidence for the administration and the village.
Simao said the Beach Party wanted to stop escalating costs and borrowing by the village, which resulted in a recent 7.5 percent tax hike. Simao and Finkel said they also would have studied village laws and eliminated those measures that have a negative impact on residents.
