What do great leaders do differently? This may cross the mind of voters as Election Day draws near. Voters will then be faced with the huge responsibility of empowering a candidate to 'navigate' their future.

Perhaps a textbook definition of leader would be one who is responsible for a group's performance through three specific roles: supervisory, managerial and as a leader.

The military spin on leadership maintains that one should "accomplish the mission and care for your people".

I prefer to embrace the definition of a great leader which I had heard several years ago: "people who leave their footprints in their areas of passion". In order to take a situation and make it better you must have a passion for improvement and the capability to drive your efforts through to completion.

As citizens we need leaders of this caliber to grow our communities while maintaining cohesiveness. Mayor Mary Ann Holzkamp and the Team Glen Cove are such leaders. Having served a second two-year term as mayor of Glen Cove, Mrs. Holzkamp has managed, through various initiatives, to raise the quality of personal and professional life for the townspeople, while simultaneously setting the ground for continued improvement as a legacy to those who will follow us.

A small snapshot of Mrs. Holzkamp's and Team Glen Cove's commitment to excellence: A commitment to the preservation of the environment for the current and future generations has received such nationwide recognition designating Glen Cove as one of 16 Brownfield Showcase Communities in the US as well as the Coastal America Partnership Award given by a consortium of 10 federal agencies. Mrs. Holzkamp has been the catalyst in the planning and cleanup of the Glen Cove Creek waterfront area which remained polluted prior to her election. Mrs. Holzkamp remains committed, along with federal, state and local authorities, to the removal of 120,000 cubic yards of contaminated and non-hazardous waste from the Glen Cove waterfront (completed this week).

Mrs. Holzkamp's continued efforts to restore the Glen Cove waterfront have been, and will continue to be, instrumental in the attraction of new businesses, which have driven the job market and local population while ensuring the city's tenure as a regional destination

As a result of Mayor Holzkamp's insightful planning and the deployment of the beautification and revitalization of its downtown demographics, Glen Cove is becoming a true metropolis.

Storefront occupancy is currently at a record high of 90 percent (this influx of new businesses is vital to the increase in population, jobs and property values). Property values are at an all-time high.

All of the former contribute to the fact that Glen Cove continues to be a desirable place in which to make a home and a living.

Truly the 'people's mayor', Mrs. Holzkamp's efforts are not limited to the environment and business community: Governor George Pataki presented Mrs. Holzkamp with the "Governor's Recognition Award." This was in acknowledgment of Mayor Holzkamp's contribution to traffic safety, representing improved safety for pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists.

Mrs. Holzkamp's dedication and servitude to the citizens of her community also garnered the recognition, along with 10 other women on Long Island, as a "Woman of Distinction", per Distinction Magazine in 2004.

The people of Glen Cove need Mrs. Holzkamp's and Team Glen Cove's re-election in 2005.

Why now more than ever? The ability to translate a broad vision into a very well-organized practical plan that her team (Team Glen Cove) will follow and put into action.

The persistence and open mindedness of Team Glen Cove will navigate with clarity large-scale change that often involves sailing into uncharted waters, without hindrance to positive outcome.

Last, but not least, the integrity of Mrs. Holzkamp and Team Glen Cove has clearly demonstrated deeply held values which have made, and will continue to make our city a better place in which to live and work.

Lori Nacinovich

As a former candidate for the City Council of the City of Glen Cove, I must echo the sentiments of Jed Morey. For of the many, many accomplishments that God has allowed me to enjoy during my lifetime to date, two of my most memorable periods have come in the form of campaigning for the City Council of the City of Glen Cove. I have spent the last eight years of my life attempting to reach my lifelong goal of earning a doctoral degree in sociology. As such, I have been privileged to learn that this profession reaches as far back as the late 1600s when social workers, then known as the "Friendly Helpers," were nothing more than community folk who were their brother's keeper. Unfortunately, in all of the years that I have resided in the City of Glen Cove (which has been all of my life), I have to date never witnessed this type of fellowship and camaraderie among this city's residents. While our incumbent mayor and the two candidates for the office of mayor continue to disburse information relevant to their opponents' abilities and qualifications, our city's children continue to fall victim to gang violence. And how operational and successful will the waterfront become once it has been infected by this violence? I can tell you, our residents, that as a social work major and long before, my major concern has always been the well-being of our children. I hear many say both verbally as well as in print that proven experience is the type of leadership needed in the City of Glen Cove and I concur fully. But, how does one achieve proven leadership? Through experience. And each and every one of us currently fulfilling career goals or pursuing career goals has been given an opportunity to gain experience or has the hope that someone will afford them the opportunity to gain experience. Care enough about your children to vote for Drew Fonrose on Nov. 8. Your children and families are worth it.

William H. Richardson II

I would like to share a favorite quote by Carl Sandburg: "Nothing happens unless first a dream." Many of us have dreams and in those dreams we sometimes visualize things. I believe that Ralph Suozzi has a vision for Glen Cove. Ever since Ralph decided to run for Mayor of Glen Cove, he has been personally available to share his dreams and visions for our Gold Coast City every Thursday evening at his headquarters on Cottage Row from 6: 30 to 9:30 p.m.- in person. He has appeared at many homes of his friends who were happy to invite their neighbors to hear Ralph speak about his education, corporate background and his community activities in Glen Cove over the years.

Today I saw Ralph shaking hands with people at Stop & Shop. He asked a gentleman to remember him on November 8 and vote for him. The gentleman replied, " I live in Sea Cliff." Ralph responded, "Then vote for Tom." Ironically, another gentleman came up to him and said that he was impressed with his credentials and his ideas and would be voting for him. The gentleman happened to be my neighbor.

Ralph has lived in Glen Cove all of his life. He has many friends and family here. I have known him for over 20 years and he is a good friend, always there if you need him. When I heard that he made a decision to run for mayor, I asked him his motivation. He said that he loved Glen Cove and that he wanted to care for his hometown, for "all" of the people living here.

After returning home from a weekend away, I came home to a telemarketing phone message from our current mayor who states, a week before the election, that she or one of the council members will be calling me to ask for my comments and suggestions for the next two years in Glen Cove.

I have lived in Glen Cove over 43 years. This is the first time that I am enthusiastic about a mayoral candidate. Ralph Suozzi is genuinely about people and not politics. Ralph Suozzi is the only candidate who has the vision for the growth and development of this city combined with his business ingenuity and fiscal responsibility to make it happen. When you go to the polls on Tuesday, look at the bottom of the ballot for the man who will put Glen Cove back on the top.

Gloria Wagner, Ph.D.