Estates POA To Hold Runoff Election
By Stephanie Mariel Petrellese

John DeMaro

The 15-member Nominating Committee of the Estates Property Owners' Association (EPOA) officially announced on Tuesday that they have nominated John DeMaro for the position of Village Trustee. Incumbent Robert Rothschild, who was nominated by a resident, will now challenge him in a runoff election on January 30th.

At the annual EPOA electors' meeting, resident Michael Schroder presented a petition nominating Rothschild. Under the Unified Procedure of the Community Agreement, other candidates can be presented in writing with a petition, which must be signed by 15 residents residing in the Estates section.

DeMaro said he was "primed for the challenge" and has extensively studied Village issues including St. Paul's, the LIRR's Main Line Corridor Improvement Project, redevelopment of the Nassau County Hub and the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now's (ACORN) call for affordable housing in the P-zone area. He pledged to listen to residents and report back to them on a regular basis.

Rothschild said as a 26-year resident in the Village he has followed local issues as they have developed. He said the current Board of Trustees is a "good group" that is moving forward on various Village issues including the historic main building and the fields at St. Paul's, the LIRR's Main Line Corridor Improvement Project, the redevelopment of the Nassau County Hub, the Community Park improvements and the ACORN litigation. Rothschild said all trustees contribute something important to the Board and he views his real estate background as a positive addition.

Robert Rothschild

The runoff election will take place on January 30 from 4 to 9 p.m. in the front foyer of the Garden City High School. All residents of the Estates section 18 years of age or older are eligible to vote. The winner of this runoff election will be the Estates Village Board Trustee candidate and will run for election on March 20 in the village-wide Board of Trustees election.

The election commissioner will be Kay Thompson. James Sugrue will serve as the chairperson of the election committee. His assistant chairpeople will be Rich Hegeman and Michael Holland.

The nominating committee also officially announced the nomination of Colleen Foley for the position of School Board Trustee. She has served on the School Board for six years and is currently vice president. Foley will run for her third three-year term on May 15 in the village-wide School Board election.

"I hope that you are able to find it in you to support me as I pursue my third term as a trustee on the Board of Education," she said.