Saddle Rock Trustees Contested Six village elections coming up on March 19

Written by Wendy Kreitzman Friday, 15 March 2013 00:00

Six of the nine Great Neck villages hold elections Tuesday, March 19. The villages of Great Neck Estates, Great Neck Plaza, Kensington, Russell Gardens, Saddle Rock and Thomaston are running mayors, trustees and judges. The villages of Great Neck, Kings Point and Lake Success all hold elections in June of each year. 

As originally reported, after contacting Saddle Rock (and the other five villages with March elections), the Great Neck Record learned that none of these elections were contested. However, at practically deadline for this issue of the Record, news began to surface that the contest for two trustee spots is indeed contested. Incumbent trustees David Schwartz and Mark Collins are running for re-election (as originally reported), but at the last minute Hamid Sharifiazad and Shlomo Zenou announced their candidacies. 

Saddle Rock Mayor Dan Levy, who is running uncontested, told the Record that he was “unaware” of the two new challengers when he spoke to the Record during the hours following the deadline for filing candidacy petitions. He says that he was “dismayed” to learn that the two new candidates filed petitions “at the last minute.” The mayor added that his board of trustees is always “transparent” and he was “disappointed” that challengers to the two current trustees did not present their agenda in public, but entered the contest “just 24 hours before the deadline.”

The Record has attempted to reach all of the candidates, but with no success. As always, with all village elections, immediately following the last date to file a petition to run for office, the Record contacts each village’s clerk/treasurer, asking for the names of the candidates. And, as well, the Record asks that the village contact each candidate, asking for a biography, a photograph, and a statement as to why the candidate is running for office. Some villages, and some candidates, do comply. This time, at deadline, none of the Saddle Rock candidates have provided any such materials.

Great Neck Estates

In the Village of Great Neck Estates, Mayor David Fox is running, uncontested, for another term. Incumbent trustees William Warner and Sidney Krugman are also running unchallenged. The mayor term is for two years, as are the trustee terms.

A new candidate, David Schaffer, is running for the four-year village justice term.

Great Neck Estates elections are Tuesday, March 19, noon to 9 p.m., at Great Neck Estates Village Hall, 4 Atwater Plaza.

Great Neck Plaza

Great Neck Plaza elections will see current trustees Gerald Schneiderman and Lawrence Katz running uncontested for two-year terms. 

Great Neck Plaza elections are on Tuesday, March 19, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., at Plaza Village Hall, 2 Gussack Plaza.

Kensington

Kensington will see will see Trustee Alina Hendler run, unopposed, for another two-year term. A new candidate, Darren Kaplan, also runs unopposed for a trustee post.

Kensington elections are on Tuesday, March 19, noon to 9 p.m., at Kensington Village Hall, 2 Nassau Drive.

Russell Gardens

In Russell Gardens former Mayor Steven Kirschner is running, once again, for his old two-year mayoral position. He is unopposed.

Also in Russell Gardens, incumbent trustees Jane Krakauer and Martin Adickman are running, unopposed, for two-year terms.

Russell Gardens elections are on Tuesday, March 19, noon to 9 p.m., at Russell Gardens Village Hall, 6 Tain Drive.

Saddle Rock

Village of Saddle Rock elections are on Tuesday, March 19, noon to 9 p.m., at Saddle Rock Village Hall, 18 Masefield Way. 

Mayor Dan Levy is running for another two-year term. Incumbent trustees David Schwartz and Mark Collins are also running for two-year terms and are contested for the two trustee spots by newcomers Sharifiazad and Shlomo Zenou. Incumbent Village Justice Julia Gariel is running for another four-year term.

Thomaston

Village of Thomaston Mayor Robert Stern is running for a new two-year term, as are incumbent trustees Steven Weinberg and Gary Noren. Trustee To-on Pang is running for a one-year term as trustee.

Thomaston elections are on Tuesday, March 19, noon to 9 p.m., at Thomaston Village Hall, 100 East Shore Road.