Richard Petrone Residents are invited to join their friends and neighbors Wednesday, March 11, at 8 PM to hear from Republican Candidates hoping to gain their support as they make their way through the political process and run for Congress in the 4th CD. Beginning at 8 PM at the Garden City Senior Recreation Center will be filled with residents who are eager to meet these candidates and hear what they hope to accomplish if elected as our next Congressman. Included on the evening’s agenda is one of our own residents, Richard Petrone.

Richard is a graduate of SUNY Albany with a degree in Political Science after had attended Southside High School in Rockville Centre. He enjoyed playing football in high school and college and today, he enjoys coaching Thunder Football and Garden City Grappler Wrestling. This spring he is looking forward to coaching Lacrosse as well.

Frank Scaturro Petrone began his successful career on Wall Street and moved to Garden City eleven years ago. Presently, he is Senior Vice President of Sales Trading for Lighthouse Financial and prior had worked a number of years with Bear Stearns among several financial institutions. Petrone brings to the political arena a wealth of financial information and passionate ideas to help the economy, so the timing of his involvement is a welcome effort. Beginning his career from financial clerk and working his way up the ladder including OTC Trader, Equity Sales Trader, Petrone has been fortunate to enjoy being found among the top performers. So working hard for his clients is a trend he hopes to continue in working for the people.

As he began taking his first steps in taking this country back and shared his deep understanding of geopolitics and history, Petrone has been met with great enthusiasm and support. As a father of four, the youngest of which in named Reagan, Petrone also brings his own enthusiasm to the forefront. He continues to cover the district attending community events and to blog online to reach as many folks as possible. We hope that you will join us on Wednesday and meet your neighbor who has generously taken on this quest on our behalf.

James Garner Last month’s featured speaker, Frank Scaturro will be back as well. Scaturro, as mentioned previously in the Garden City News, is also seeking the Republican nomination for Congress. Scaturro was raised in New Hyde Park and attended Chaminade High School, attained the rank of Eagle Scout, and participates in numerous civic and church organizations. While attending Columbia University pursuing a degree in Political Science and History, he served as an intern in the district office of Rep. David Levy, who represented the 4th Congressional District. He also volunteered with the National Park Service and began his personal crusade to restore Grant’s Tomb, as it was severely deteriorated. Frank then founded a non-profit organization, the Grant Monument Association, to serve as an outlet for citizen support.

Peter Zinno Scaturro attended the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Law and interned for two federal judges serving the Eastern District of New York: Senior District Judge Leonard Wexler and Magistrate Judge Arlene Lindsay. Following graduation, he worked at the law firm of Lane & Mittendorf and later at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft. He also enjoys having published a number of books and has served as Counsel for the Constitution on the Senate Judiciary Committee. Scaturro collaborated with Senator Arlen Specter on his memoir focused on his struggle with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, bringing national attention to the early detection of and fight against cancer.

Presently Scaturro is serving as a visiting professor at Hofstra Law School and is teaching courses on constitutional law and the legislative process for the 2009-2010 academic school year. Since Scaturro entered this race last fall, he has sought support for his race and widely received well. He has been taken seriously and now touts over $100,000 in his campaign war chest, a tough feat for any newcomer.

Also considering another run against Carolyn McCarthy is James Garner, former village trustee and Mayor of Hempstead for fifteen years. Residents may recall that Garner faced off Ms. McCarthy in 2004 and still enjoys being the challenger to receive the highest number of votes thus far among all who have run against her since she first took office. Garner also served as Chairman of the Board, Vice President, and finally President of the United States Conference of Mayors. In this capacity, having now observed first-hand just how effective some elected officials were in fighting for the needs of their constituents Jim felt strongly then and now that his own congresswoman paled by comparison in addressing the needs of her constituents.

Garner is no stranger to Garden City as he graduated with his Bachelor of Science from Adelphi University after proudly having served his country in the Vietnam era. Before entering government service, he established a successful pest control company that his family still owns and operates today. His business acumen led to his appointment as a delegate to the 1986 White House Conference on Small Business, and he was appointed to the US Small Business Administration’s National Advisory Council as well as the State and Local Senior Advisory Committee on Homeland Security.

Garner is hopeful that his successful experience revitalizing the village of Hempstead with its population nearing 70,000, being a member on the Homeland Security Advisor Board and work on various Homeland Security initiatives as president of the United States Conference of Mayors has strengthened his background so that he can bring to Washington the ability to foster effective programs to protect our citizens and further work towards a more productive partnership between cities and the federal government to keep our citizens safe will earn him support from his Garden City neighbors.

However, we also have Peter Zinno who feels he was “born to run” eagerly hoping to win the hearts of the people. Zinno, a graduate of Carey High School, enjoyed setting County and school records in the sport of Track and Field. A graduate of St. John’s University with bachelor degree in Education, Masters in American Government and Politics - International Relations, he continued to obtain a Masters in Public Administration from New York University as well, Zinno comes to us highly educated.

In the 1960s, Zinno enjoyed a vast array of Franklin Square community service posts including President of Kiwanis, Library Trustee, President of the Republican Club, the Legislative Advisory Committee for the NYS Assembly and elected to serve as a Committeeman for the Nassau County GOP. In the 1970s he founded the Women’s Track & Field program at NYIT, one of the first of its kind in the United States. Looking back, Zinno has enjoyed a 40-year coaching career and been a seven time honoree as NCAA Division II Coach of the Year, three time ECAC Women’s Coach of the Year and the Nassau County Sports Commission Coach of the Year.

Although officially retired as Dean of Students from East Meadow High School and coaching, Zinno continues to volunteer his time as a mentor to young track & field athletes near his Rockville Centre home where he and his family have resided for over thirty years. Zinno hopes his passion for excellence, experience in working as a team player and educator will ignite the support he needs to capture a strong Republican victory in November.

The Garden City Republican Club welcomes you to join them in taking a closer look at just who wishes to be our next Congressman. Each feel passionate about their efforts, have long lists of accomplishments and do believe this is the year to take back this seat because of the potential tumultuous elections due to many scheduled and announced retirements among office holders. Americans seem intent on reshaping the political atmosphere here at home and in Washington and hope it will bring us a more functional bipartisan government. Come join in the process. Refreshments will be served and several hope to help boost the local business economy after the meeting and will continue a lively discussion at Walk Street. For additional information, please call 741-3079.