Frank Ruggiero has challenged the Eastern Property Owners' Association (EPOA) Nominating Committee's unanimous decision to bring forth Nick Episcopia as candidate for village trustee. Jon Segerdahl, current village trustee representing the East, did not challenge the nomination. A run-off election will take place Tuesday, Feb. 1, at Stewart School between the hours of 4:30 and 9 p.m. Picture ID is required. The winner of this election will become the Community Agreement Party's candidate in the village's general election this March.

EPOA Nominating Committee members paid particular attention to Episcopia's view on St. Paul's, taxes, controlled development both to the east of the village and within its borders, as well as budgets and unanimously sensed that he best represented the views of the majority of eastern section residents.

Episcopia, an active EPOA member since 1973, is the association's immediate past president and currently serves as a director. During his EPOA presidency, Episcopia arranged meetings between representatives of the police department, EPOA board, and representatives from various neighborhoods to resolve traffic and speeding concerns on certain residential streets. He was successful in his fight to convince trustees and Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) officials to restore plantings along the right-of-way bordering St. James Street after LIPA removed trees and bushes to erect new poles. He worked with Senator Kemp Hannon to obtain grants from LIPA and the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR).

Further, Episcopia aided in the struggle to urge the county to install a traffic light at Franklin Avenue and Fourth Street, which recently became operational. He worked with Trustee Peter Bee, then Commissioner of Public Works, along with village staff, to resolve residents' problems with mandatory sidewalk and driveway apron repairs in the East. He joined forces with the Joint Conference Committee of the four POAs to vote down the BOCES' countywide referendum to purchase 71 Clinton Road. Although BOCES prevailed, more than 3,100 opposition votes came from village residents.

With regard to St. Paul's, after extensive EPOA board study and discussion on the issue, Episcopia, as president, obtained their informed consensus on the Historic Main Building's future, appointed a special committee to prepare the board's position on paper and presented that position to the board. Further, along with several EPOA directors, he worked, in conjunction with directors of the other three POAs, to develop the recent St. Paul's survey.

Professionally, Episcopia is currently director of acquisitions and dispositions for WRA Properties, Inc. and a member of the NY Mortgage Bankers Association. He guest spoke at the New York Bar Association Conference on Cooperatives and Condominiums. At the request of several residents, Episcopia convinced trustees to amend legislation that now enables military veterans who own co-ops to receive the same village exemptions that those who own condominiums and homes receive. He has been active in numerous community organizations since 1973. Episcopia is a past director and current member of the Men's Association of Garden City High School; a member of the St. Joseph's In-Home Pre-Cana Committee; director of the L.I. Fordham Club; a past president of the Garden City Jaycees; and has served as treasurer of St. Joseph's Men's Guild. He holds a BA from Fordham University and an MBA in finance from Long Island University.

Despite the lack of name recognition and without the benefit of being a sitting trustee, Ruggiero believes if anyone can pull off a surprise victory, it could be he. The Pell Terrace resident admits his neighbors really encouraged him to run. He believes residents of Garden City want to be heard and truly know their representatives are listening. As a trustee, he admits he has an obligation to make certain that whatever it is the residents are concerned about, he has to listen and take their concerns seriously, even something as small as sidewalk repairs.

With regard to St. Paul's, Ruggiero wants all residents to vote individually on an issue he believes has monumental consequences. Admitting he's a "show me the money" proponent, Ruggiero said the board has one chance to solve the St. Paul's issue as any false steps could result, in his opinion, in a taxpayer backlash. Although the St. Paul's saga has plagued the current board, Ruggiero believes other matters, such as rising taxes, deterioration of the village's business district and increased traffic should also be at the forefront.

Further, he claims to have no conflicts of interest in real estate, construction or any business that would come before him as trustee and questions whether anyone else could state the same without adding a qualifier.

Ruggiero, who moved to Garden City from Queens in 1992, believes the greatest problem facing Garden City today is one of a delicate balance between maintaining a quality of life and minimizing the taxpayers' costs to preserve Garden City's residential character. With more than 25 years experience in owning his own manufacturing business in New York City's garment district, Ruggiero hopes to apply all he's learned in money management. He believes residents want to see a "cause and effect" relationship amongst trustees and residents and believes he'd evaluate matters with a keen fiscal eye that will benefit the entire community.

Presently employed as a consultant in the insurance business, Ruggiero said he's paid particular close attention to issues such as high-tension wires and sidewalk repairs in his neighborhood. He's active with the EPOA, Knights of Columbus, Sons of Italy and Republican Club. He cites accountability to the residents to be the primary reason the workings of village government must always be open and available.

If Ruggiero, father of three and grandfather of four, proves victorious Feb. 1, he hopes to restore "the kind of community consensus needed to move the issues forward for the betterment of all residents." He also vows to bring a level of civility that, in his opinion, has always set Garden City apart from others towns.