Village Elections Slated For Tuesday

Atlantic Beach Trustee Edward Sullivan. Photo courtesy of Edward Sullivan.

By Amanda Mayo

Village elections will be held this Tuesday for the villages of Atlantic Beach, Lawrence, Hewlett Bay Park, Hewlett Harbor, Hewlett Neck and Woodsburgh. Although most of these elections are uncontested, the candidates are still running on certain platforms that make them stand out as leaders of their independent communities. Cedarhurst is the only village within The Five Towns that is not holding an election this week.

ATLANTIC BEACH

In the village of Atlantic Beach, the positions of mayor and two trustees will be voted upon. Incumbent Mayor Steven Mahler, who has served the village for 16 years, will be challenged once again by Edward Radburn, who ran for mayor last election cycle, in 2010. Radburn served as a trustee in the village government for two terms, from 1996 to 2000. He lost his re-election bid in 2000.

Trustees Linda Baessler and Edward Sullivan will be seeking re-election for their second terms as trustees. These positions are uncontested. Baessler has been a resident of Atlantic Beach for 37 years and has taught in the Island Park school district for 34 years. She is president of Atlantic Beach Cats, Inc., a charity that serves as a Trap-Neuter-Return program for feral cats in Atlantic Beach. She is also on the village’s 50th anniversary celebration committee. The celebration is taking place next Wednesday and Thursday, June 20-21.

Hon. Thomas Cohen, Trustee, Inc. Village of Hewlett Harbor. Photo courtesy of Tom Cohen.

Edward Sullivan has served the Atlantic Beach community since January 2006 when he was appointed to the Board of Zoning Appeals. In June 2008 he stepped down from the Board of Zoning appeals to accept an appointment to the Board of Trustees. He has since been re-elected to the Board of Trustees in 2008 and 2010. Sullivan serves as Deputy Mayor of the village. He is very active in youth activities and has sponsored family runs on the boardwalk and outdoor movie nights at the beach. Sullivan is a Vice President at Goldman Sachs responsible for Technology Infrastructure.

The Village of Atlantic Beach will hold its elections on June 19 at 65 The Plaza in Atlantic Beach.

HEWLETT BAY PARK

In the village of Hewlett Bay Park, the positions of mayor and two trustees will be voted upon. Mayor Steven Kaufman, who has served four terms in the village government, and trustees Andrea Soskel and Joel Schneider are seeking re-election. All positions are uncontested.

The Village of Hewlett Bay Park will hold its elections on June 19 at Village Hall on 30 Piermont Avenue in Hewlett.

HEWLETT HARBOR

The village of Hewlett Harbor will be holding elections for mayor and two trustee positions, which are all uncontested.

Incumbent Mayor Mark Weiss, who has been a resident of the village for 18 years, is responsible for setting the tone of village government and is ultimately responsible for making sure that the day-to-day village operations and longer term projects reflect the overall needs and desires of the residents. Weiss says he is passionate about restoring residents’ trust in government and is determined to demonstrate by example that government can be efficient, effective and responsive.

Trustees Kenneth Kornblau, Esq., and Thomas Cohen are both running for re-election for two-year terms. Cohen has been a resident of Hewlett Harbor for 20 years. “My platform consists of the belief that a local village government is more efficiently run by residents of that location than by outsiders,” he said. “We are more accessible and responsible than other governmental bodies that are unfamiliar with our needs.” Cohen also serves as Comptroller for the Kiwanis Club of The Five Towns.

The Village of Hewlett Harbor will hold its elections on June 19 at Village Hall on 499 Pepperidge Road in Hewlett Harbor.

HEWLETT NECK

Steven R. Hochberg, Hewlett Neck Trustee. Photo courtesy of Steven Hochberg.

The village of Hewlett Neck will be holding uncontested elections for mayor and two trustee positions. Mayor Stuart Troyetsky will not be seeking re-election.

Ross Epstein, who is running for mayor of the Village of Hewlett Neck, has lived in The Five Towns his whole life. “I want to help our village in any way I can with the emphasis on maintaining the integrity of the village and at the same time taking into consideration the fiduciary responsibility that the elected board holds on behalf of all the residents of the village,” he said. He has been in the real estate and property management business for over 20 years, which he says makes him an excellent candidate.

Trustee Bertram Kalisher, who has served in the village government since 1969, is up for re-election along with Trustee Steven Hochberg. Hochberg, who has been a resident of the village for 15 years, says his duties include insuring that the village provides the services that are the village’s responsibilities to its residents.

The Village of Hewlett Neck will hold its elections on June 19 at the Keystone Yacht Club on 190 Woodmere Boulevard South in Woodmere.

LAWRENCE

The Village of Lawrence will hold elections for the positions of mayor, village justice and two trustee positions. All positions are uncontested. Lawrence Mayor Martin Oliner has been serving the village for the last four years. Trustee C. Simon Felder will be running for his second two-year term and Trustee Edward Klar decided not to seek re-election. Village resident Irving Langer will be running for Klar’s vacant trustee seat and Village Justice Donald Buchalter, who has held this position for the last 25 years, will be running for another four-year term.

The Village of Lawrence will hold its elections on June 19 at Village Hall at 196 Central Avenue in Lawrence.

WOODSBURGH

The Village of Woodsburgh is holding elections for the positions of two trustees. These positions are uncontested.

Woodsburgh Trustee Lee Israel. Photo courtesy of Lee Israel.

Trustee Edmond O. Mukamal, who has lived in Woodsburgh since 1977, is currently the village’s Deputy Mayor. “I have a history of service to the Village and have familiarity with most residents,” he said. “I believe Woodsburgh is a friendly village and, as neighbors, we can resolve most problems at our monthly village meetings.” Mukamal said he is most interested in the safety of Woodsburgh’s residents and the environmental welfare of the village.

Trustee Lee Israel has lived in The Five Towns for over two decades and in the village of Woodsburgh for the last 12 years. “Most importantly my objective is to improve the quality of life within the village and see that village tax dollars are spent wisely and conservatively to do so,” He said. “It is my genuine intention to assist in assuring that the Village of Woodsburgh continues to be a wonderful place to live. I am proud of our community and wish to see it continue to flourish, which is my primary motivation for public service.”

The Village of Woodsburgh will hold its elections on June 19 at the Keystone Yacht Club at 190 Woodmere Boulevard South in Woodmere.