The Great Neck peninsula will see six villages hold elections this month. Two villages, Great Neck Estates and Saddle Rock, will see contested elections. As always, the Great Neck Record contacted each of these villages --- Great Neck Estates, Great Neck Plaza, Kensington, Russell Gardens, Saddle Rock and Thomaston --- and asked that all candidates, contested or not, send in a short bio and a photo. For the uncontested elections, we offer the opportunity for publicity. For the contested elections, we request the materials to publish.

Each year during election times (March and three village elections in June) we generally receive some stories from uncontested candidates ... and we always, always receive the bio and photo from candidates in contested elections. We know of candidates who have changed vacation plans in order to properly participate in their election process. One year we even received requested publicity from a candidate vacationing in Italy; email does work just about all over the world.

The Record heartily encourages all candidates, contested or not, to get to know the public, and we certainly are here to help with the very important job of helping the public get to know the candidates, their potential public officials.

We ask that our readers also take the time to check out these stories, and, hopefully, have some facts on which to base their votes.

This year, due to some technical difficulties, the Great Neck Estates candidates did not have their materials in for last week's issue. We have been in contact with all three candidates and will include all such information in this week's issue.

Next week's issue, March 13, is the final issue before the elections. Therefore, for that issue, we cannot include any bios for contested elections. We will, though, publish any further information for uncontested elections.

Please do check out our election stories. We hope that we can help you make an informed decision.

- Wendy Karpel Kreitzman