I first became involved in Hicksville in the 1966 election. Since then (for the next 42 years) I have supported various people who wanted to run for office representing Hicksville in various ways as government representatives, school board members, fire district commissioners, water district commissioners and library district trustees. We are blessed in having people who are willing to come forward and give of their time and energy to represent us, attend meetings and make million-dollar decisions that someone always disagree with. My hat is off to those persons who are here all the time to answer any phone calls to them and attend monthly or more frequent meetings to answer the residents' concerns and take the job seriously.

Our real estate taxes are too high and always going up. We need someone who will hold the line as much as possible, keep a tight fist when it comes to spending our money and will explain to the residents why the money should be spent. Every so often we have that unique person who grew up here in Hicksville and has years of knowledge about the growth and changes he lived with; a person who works here in Hicksville and sees the everyday goings on; a person who is very conscious of taxes and any proposed increase.

This year we are very fortunate to have a person with these qualities and his name is Warren Uss. Warren is a lifelong third generation resident of Hicksville and has served over 35 years on the Hicksville Fire Department. He is aware of every street, church, school building and business. He has his hand on the community's pulse and I cannot think of a better person to support for water commissioner in the upcoming election than Warren Uss.

As a specialist in N.Y. State tax-free bonds and fixed income securities, he will bring unique experience to the job. This just compounds the experience and need for a person with his talent.

Be sure to exercise your right and vote on Sept. 2 at the East Marie Street firehouse between 3 and 9 p.m.

Tom Clark

(Editor's Note: Thomas L. Clark is a former Oyster Bay Town Board member.)