On July 29, Newsday reported Mayor Graf as stating I was an adequate trustee but "not deputy mayor material." I had been re-appointed to that office repeatedly and Mayor Graf appointed me himself as deputy mayor on April 4, 2004. He re-appointed me because, in his own words, he "valued my expertise and knowledge of the village."

As one who has lived in the village for many decades, all my life actually, it is well-known that I was the night shift medical director at Republic Aviation when the evening employment was over 10,000 employees. While on active duty in the US Navy, I was assigned as lead physician to the Enlisted Men's Sick Call for the Atlantic Surface Fleet in Norfolk, Virginia. In addition, I was assigned as lead physician to the Enlisted Men's Sick Call for the Atlantic Submarine Fleet in Charleston, South Carolina. Furthermore, I was School District #22 school physician for over 30 years and the school physician at SUNY Farmingdale until I retired. While at the state university, I established the on-campus student health service.

I entered public service by appointment to the Town of Oyster Bay Ethics Board in January 1964. I was appointed to the Village of Farmingdale Zoning Board of Appeals and served as its chairman until I was appointed to the village board in March 1988. I practiced medicine in the Village of Farmingdale for 48 years and was the first to greet many of Farmingdale's newborns. I also was there to offer my hand in support to many of our fine citizens as they were leaving this world. I have been active with the Boy Scouts of America and Scout master of two Boy Scout troops. I am intricately involved with the Farmingdale-Bethpage Historical Society and have served as president, and I established the society's two museum display cases at the Farmingdale Public Library.

I have served the community as a Rotarian for almost 40 years. I am a past president of the Farmingdale Rotary Club and was a member of its board of directors for over 20 years. The creed of Rotary is: 1) Is it the truth? 2) Is it fair to all concerned? 3) Will it build good will and better friendships? and 4) Is it beneficial to all concerned? Although the mayor, two of his trustees and their two legal advisors are fellow Rotarians, it is obvious they have all failed the creed miserably. I will continue to hold my head high but I am ashamed to have these individuals as fellow Rotarians.

It is indeed an insult to be denigrated by Mayor Graf and his associates. The mayor is a middle-aged, unemployed individual who is attending school to help him define his future. He most certainly has exhibited a severe lack of leadership ability.

My comments are not meant to be retaliatory or disparaging, but only to disseminate the truth to my fellow village residents.

Benjamin Giminaro

Trustee