It was with a heavy heart that I read last week's Newsday and New York Times articles about the financial allegations facing me, my administration and the Village of Farmingdale. Please be assured that there is a response to these allegations forthcoming.

I find it curious that as a former elected official who tried very hard to demonstrate common sense and pragmatism to the day-to-day business of the village, that I have now been denounced, criticized and forced to endure continued alleged errors in judgment. These assertions were played out in a very public forum due to an "anonymous flier" that was sent to the State Comptroller's Office. The election is over, when will the personal harassment end?

I spent an hour with the Newsday reporter giving my side of the story, however, it was never printed. In light of the recent scandal involving the Board of Education in Roslyn and some corporate scandals on Long Island, this type of media hype was extremely ripe for the news. Furthermore, I was not allowed to respond to the State Auditor's report simply because I am no longer an elected official. I find this extremely unfair and unjust.

I proudly and unselfishly gave 12 wonderful, gratifying years of my life to the Village of Farmingdale. I followed what I knew to be village and state procedural guidelines, and for those who don't know, there was a system of checks and balances in place by the village. By virtue of the nature of the political campaign waged against my administration and the hostility that still prevails, I have to ask why said administration and I are still fodder for a distasteful agenda. What is happening today in our town is not good politics and it is not good government.

Please allow me to remind every resident that I still have a home, a family and a successful business in this village and I would never hurt any of them. I wish I was able to respond to the situation at hand from the onset, but I was not offered the courtesy. I ask each of you to please be patient and look for my written response in the near future.

Our village has gone from a high of hosting the US Open 2002 to some new lows. There have been no criminal charges waged against me, nor will there be. I implore those serving now to get down to business and try to make things better. Common sense and sense of class dictate that anything less is futile. I am a life member of the Farmingdale Fire Department, still a proud resident and I am not going anywhere. Before you receive my written response to the shameful allegations against me and my administration, please ask yourselves if you have ever heard New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg bash Mayor Giuliani or Mayor Giuliani bash Mayor Dinkins or Mayor Dinkins bash Mayor Koch, etc., etc.

Joseph Trudden, Mayor 1992-2004