The mayor and two trustees are up for re-election in the Village of Farmingdale, as voters prepare to head to the polls next month.

The election is set for March 21, and the filing deadline for candidates is Feb. 15. The campaign season is still in the early stages.

"The official date to go on the ballot is February 15. So at this point, technically, no one's on the ballot yet - not even the incumbents, until they file their petitions on or before February 15," Village Clerk-Treasurer John Giordano noted this week. However, according to Giordano, the elected officials have indicated that they will run for re-election.

The incumbents are Mayor Joseph Trudden, a retired Suffolk County Police detective and owner of McCourt and Trudden Funeral Home, Trustee Vincent Sotis, who is known in the community for his work as an architect, and Trustee Michael Kelly, who is known for his longtime involvement with the Farmingdale Fire Department, and is chair of the Farmingdale Board of Fire Commissioners. All are sponsored by the Restoration Party.

Elections are held every two years in Farmingdale, on a rotating basis, for two judgeships, four trusteeships, and mayor. Each office carries a four-year term.

Seemingly characteristic of the small-town nature of Farmingdale Village, quiet campaign seasons have been the trend in recent years. In fact, the last time there was a contested election in the village was eight years ago, according to Giordano, when Trudden successfully ran against Mildred DeMarco for the spot of mayor, which was being vacated by the retirement of Willis Carman. Prior to that, there had not been a contested election since the 1960s, the village clerk-treasurer noted.

Since the 1992 race, Mayor Trudden has won re-election twice, both times in an uncontested election, and now will ask voters to return him for a fourth term. There is no limit to the number of times that a public official can be re-elected in Farmingdale.

The last village election took place two years ago, and featured unopposed candidates for one judgeship and two trusteeships.

Voter turnout is also usually quite low. Out of 8,000 residents, only about 3,000 are registered to vote. During uncontested elections, only a couple of hundred residents head to the polls, although during the '92 race about 65 percent of the population had their say, according to Giordano.

Those who wish to exercise their right to vote in this year's village elections may obtain a registration application, as well as absentee ballot forms, by calling Village Hall at 249-0093. Those who are already registered to vote in state, county and town elections need not re-register locally, noted Giordano. Those who are not sure whether they are registered to vote may call the Nassau County Board of Elections at 571-2411.