By ARIELLA MONTI
"It's going to be very competitive this year," said Home Rule Party President Charlie Casolaro.
Two village trustees, Andrew Karamouzis and Jeanne Mulry, are up for re-election, and Village Justice Frank Yannelli is leaving office. "There are a multitude of people, affiliated with parties and not affiliated with parties, looking to run for those trustee seats and the village justiceship," said Casolaro.
While the Home Rule Party did not have any candidates in the 2007 election, according to Casolaro, the party plans to have a strong voice in 2009. "The party doesn't like the way the village is being run," he said, explaining that Home Rule is known for fiscal conservatism and supporting growth. "The party does not like the direction the village is going in - high taxes, not fiscally prudent decisions for the village."
This election will also see the creation of the Citizen Taxpayers Party, led by resident Jeff Greenfield, a former village trustee who is the chairman of the Nassau County Planning Commission. "I'm not satisfied that the existing parties are addressing my concerns, and the concerns of many residents in the village," said Greenfield. The aim of the new party, he said, is to make the village more responsive to taxpayers.
Greenfield said that one of his primary concerns is the state of village roadway projects, which he said have been abandoned. Another is the aftermath of a lengthy court battle - from 2005 to 2007 - between the village and developer Chase Partners over the size of a development on Banks Avenue. Chase Partners sold the rights to the property to AvalonBay Communities, a Virginia-based developer, in 2007, and a 349-unit complex of rental apartments is now planned for the site. "It is time for the village to move forward after losing the Chase Partners litigation and spending hundreds of thousands of dollars in that effort," Greenfield said.
He added that he would not be running for one of the trustee seats.
No candidate from the United Taxpayers Party has run for a trustee seat in recent years, and the party's president, Sue Oppenheimer, said that it is too early to determine whether a candidate will run on the UTP line.
"We have a reputation for either running our own slate or backing and working for candidates that we feel are best for the village," said Oppenheimer, who noted that the party's main concern is the AvalonBay complex and its potential effects on the village - including a possible increase in school enrollment and the use of village utilities and law enforcement.
Rick Gaska, president of the Residents' Voice Party, said he would not yet comment on the upcoming election. Karamouzis and Mulry are both members of Residents' Voice.
Concerned Citizens Party President Michael Jewell did not return calls seeking comment. Mayor Mary Bossart, Deputy Mayor Chuck Joyce and Trustee Dave Krasula are affiliated with Concerned Citizens.
Comments about this story? AMonti@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 282.
Election facts
Date: June 16
Candidate qualifications:
18 or over
Rockville Centre resident
March 31 - First day residents can sign nominating petitions
May 5 - First day to file nominating petitions
May 12 - Last day to file nominating petitions
100 signatures are needed for a candidate to be nominated
