By JUDY RATTNER
Its nominees are: for Mayor - Mary Whalen Bossart; for Village Trustees (2) - Charles R. Joyce and David A. Krasula; and for Village Justice - William J. Croutier, Jr., Esq.
"We were very gratified to have so many individuals willing to consider the demands and sacrifices of public office," said Concerned Citizens President Michael Jewell. "It was difficult to choose among those we interviewed. Nevertheless, our full slate of candidates offers voters experience, reasonableness and maturity."
Mayoral candidate Mary Whalen Bossart's parents moved to their Rockville Centre home on Hendrickson in 1960 - next door to Chuck Joyce's family. Mary attended St. Agnes Cathedral Elementary and High School. Returning to the village after college and marriage, she became active in the St. Agnes Mothers' Club, the RVC Jr. League for Mercy Medical Center, the Phillips House Museum, and the RVC Environmental and Beautification Committee. After serving as President of the South Side Civic Association, Bossart became co-Chair for Fundraising of the RVC Centennial Commission and was named one of the RVC Herald's "People of the Year" for that effort. She is a former member of the Board of Directors of the RVC Friends of Senior Services (FOSSI) as well as CONFIDE, and currently serves on the Advisory Board of the Hispanic Brotherhood. After serving for a year on the Village Board of Zoning Appeals, Mrs. Bossart was elected as a Village Trustee in 1997 and re-elected in 2001, serving until 2005.
Trustee candidate Chuck Joyce is an almost life-long village resident who graduated from South Side High School and from college locally. A U. S. Army veteran, Joyce has been a member of the Rockville Centre Fire Department since 1965 and was in the first class of Emergency Medical Technicians in 1968. In the approximately 15 years since the RVCFD has kept such statistics, Mr. Joyce has made over 12,000 rescue calls. He continues to be an active member of the Rescue Company as well as the RVC Fire Council. Employed by Nassau County for over 33 years, Joyce recently retired. In 2006, as the Director of the Child Support Enforcement Department, he supervised over 100 employees and collected almost $90 million for the support of children.
Trustee Candidate Dave Krasula, a village resident for over 30 years, is a former co-Chair of the RVC Environmental and Beautification Committee. Krasula has also served on the Citizens' Budget Advisory Committee and the Community Development Citizens Committee. In 1996, he was the Committee Chair of the RVC School District Bond Committee and was named one of the RVC Herald's "People of the Year." In addition he is a former coach, commissioner, and board member of the Rockville Centre Soccer Club. Krasula currently serves as an alternate member of the RVC Planning Board. Professionally, he operates a litigation support business.
William J. Croutier, Jr., Esq. is another longtime resident of Rockville Centre. He attended St. Agnes Elementary and High Schools. Mr. Croutier was admitted to the NYS Bar in 1979. A well-respected litigator, Mr. Croutier has more than 20 years experience as a Deputy Village Attorney and 11 years as the village's Special Prosecutor. He served as Chairman of the Rockville Centre We Care September 11th Committee and the Memorial Committee, for which he was named "Person of the Year" by the RVC Herald in 2002 and was awarded the Molloy College Caritas Medal for Service to the Community in 2003. Mr. Croutier is a Senior Partner of Hammill, O'Brien, Croutier, Dempsey & Pender, P.C.
"Rockville Centre is at a critical juncture," said mayoral candidate Bossart. "The issues we face as a community - revising our zoning code, developing a workable parking plan for residents and businesses, holding tax increases to a minimum while providing quality services, among others - require trustees to work in a cooperative, open, and balanced way. I know that Chuck, Dave, and I are committed and determined to resolving civic issues in a civil manner for the betterment of the whole village.
"The Concerned Citizens Party also believes that Bill Croutier has demonstrated superior legal skills and fairness as a Village Prosecutor. We are honored to have him on our ticket and believe he will be an excellent village justice," said Bossart.
Anyone who would like to volunteer to help in the campaign can contact Michael Jewell at (516) 678-5085 or email Aileen Evans at aileen367@optonline.net.
Comments about this story? rvceditor@ liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 208.
