“It’s an important position. I wouldn’t be doing it otherwise,” Rumelt said. “We’re guardians, in a way, of the taxpayers’ money and I want to make sure that whatever we spend is well-spent and is providing the best programs that we can because I think a neighborhood thrives on its library.”

Thomas Mascia
Age: 48
Family: Married, three children
Years in community: 38
Profession: Employed with New York City Transit

Thomas Mascia knows the ins and outs of the West Hempstead library building. He worked for 11 years as the library’s facilities manager, overseeing all physical operations and maintenance, upgrading as necessary and implementing a more “green” approach, all the while helping to save money.

According to Mascia, his maintenance background will go a long way toward improving the library’s finances. Since he left his position with the library about a year ago, the board has spent money unnecessarily to outsource much of its maintenance work, Mascia said. But, he added, if elected, he would direct the board on how to properly utilize its custodial and maintenance staff to get the work done in-house and save taxpayers’ money.

“I just feel that having that background of mechanical knowledge … an extra pair of eyes and new ideas would be good on the board,” Mascia said. “Where the makeup now is maybe some attorneys and accountants on the board — maybe their ideas are great, I’m not putting them down — but to have maybe a laymen out there that can throw [out] a different idea on how the building would operate would be beneficial.”

While Mascia — who is a member of the St. Thomas the Apostle Church and Parents’ Club and served as a coach for a West Hempstead Chiefs soccer team — has made his reasons for running for the seat clear, some people still question his decision to challenge Owen Rumelt for the seat. Their skepticism is rooted in Mascia’s relationship to library Director Regina Mascia (his sister) and secretary Dorothy Mascia (his wife).