By JOSEPH KELLARD
And that's the theme Kate Murray struck throughout when she announced, in her native Levittown last Thursday, that she will seek another term as supervisor of the Town of Hempstead.
Framed by the arch of the Levittown Veterans Memorial Park on Hempstead Turnpike, the Republican incumbent addressed a crowd of her supporters, saying that town residents trust "the Murray team" to "restore the environment" and upgrade parks and facilities, and to revitalize business districts that "help our mom-and-pop stores flourish." The supervisor also called the town's affordable homes program "second to none," praised the municipality's budgetary practices, and exclaimed that the town will propose another tax freeze, that is, minimizing tax increases while maintaining existing services.
"We're very proud of what we have delivered for the 780,000 residents who make up this great township," Murray told her supporters who waved her placards.
Both Murray and Joseph Mondello, chairman of the Nassau County Republican Committee, predicted a historic victory on Election Day, Nov. 6. "She will be reelected with a plurality that she has never before seen in her life," Mondello shouted.
Murray's announcement was sandwiched between the Nassau Democratic Committee's convention on Wednesday and the Republican convention Thursday evening, when Murray was officially nominated. The Democrats, however, have yet to formally nominate Murray's opponent, but did list Gary Carlton of Valley Stream on its list of nominated candidate. Carlton, the longtime president of the North Woodmere Civic Association, lost a legislative district race to Republican incumbent Francis Becker in 1999. Reached at his home on Saturday evening, Carlton said he has no intentions of running against Murray for supervisor.
"I'm not running against her," Carlton said. "I just have no desire to do it."
While Jay Jacobs, chairman of the Nassau Democratic Party, did not return phone calls for comment, Dorothy Goosby of Hempstead, the lone Democrat on the town board, revealed that her party has approached her to challenge Murray. "It's a big 'if,' and at this particular time I'm holding out," Goosby said.
When Murray first ran in an election for her supervisor's seat, after she was originally appointed upon Richard Guardino's departure for Hofstra in 2003, Goosby faced and lost her party's primary nomination to Barbara Patton, former Democratic commissioner of the Board of Elections.
Goosby said that if she refrains from running and Murray is reelected in November, she hopes the sitting supervisor will "really" work for the people, not for her party.
"She has not really respected that the council person is responsible for their own district, not she," Goosby elaborated, charging that Murray will sometimes take care of items or contact residents in the districts of the various council members without notifying, consulting or precluding them.
"And I'm not pleased with the fact that she uses taxpayers' money for commercials that publicize herself for her reelection," Goosby added. "... It is time, especially now, for her to discontinue that action."
Murray was challenged in her second campaign in 2005 by Democrat and Nassau County Assessor Harvey Levinson. While she defeated Levinson, capturing 59 percent of the vote, many considered his campaign the Democrats first concerted, legitimate push to unseat the executive head of the town, targeted by the Democrats as among the last GOP strongholds in the county.
Levinson challenged Murray on issues ranging from mass PR mailings, illegal housing and patronage, to town tax increases and the "Byzantine" tax systems within its various sanitation, fire and water districts. Murray vowed during her campaign to focus on a new $100 million road improvement project, create more affordable housing and revitalize downtown areas throughout the township.
Continuing on her campaign theme last Thursday, Murray pointed to reelection numbers for the council members as a confirmation of residents' trust in their leadership. In addition to Murray's reelection in 2005, Anthony Santino of East Rockaway and Gary Hudes of Levittown won easily that November, allowing the Republicans to maintain their 5-1 lock on the town board. Goosby also retained her seat that year.
"The residents trust the Murray team and Town of Hempstead government to deliver the services at the lowest possible costs," she said.
Last week, Murray was joined by running mates Councilwoman Angie Cullin of Freeport, Councilman Ed Ambrosino of North Valley Stream, Town Clerk Mark Bonilla and Receiver of Taxes Don Clavin of Garden City, who are also seeking reelection along with Councilman James Darcy of Valley Stream, who was absent.
"We're going to take back that [county] legislature; let's get it done this year," Clavin said to his fellow Republicans in the cheering crowd.
One cheering resident, Charlie Sallitto of Bellmore, said he endorses Murray for her stance on taxes and the stability of taxes in the town, which he attributes to her efforts. "We know about high taxes on Long Island," Sallitto said. "In other places taxes are spiraling out of control. Our taxes have increased but not significantly."
"She has great supervision, keeps taxes low, and I think women do a great job in government," said another Murray supporter, JoAnn Delgado.
Pete Giordano of Westbury said what he appreciates most about the town is its mobile town hall, which visits communities to offer various services, including passport and photo I.D. programs. "I would love to see that [done] nationwide," Giordano said.
Marc Beja, Rachel Block, Allegra D'Alo and Jeff Lipton contributed to this story. Comments about this story? JKellard@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 287.
