Although the New Hyde Park/Garden City Park School Board election is not until May 18, Patricia Rudd of New Hyde Park has announced that she will run in the election to capture the seat currently occupied by incumbent trustee Gail Keyes.

The Illustrated News contacted trustee Keyes and she said that she has not yet decided whether or not she will run for re-election. The other trustee whose term expires this year is current board president Suzanne Wenz. When contacted she said that she definitely was planning to run for re-election in the May 18 election.

Rudd, (nee Booth) is a lifelong resident of the New Hyde Park/Garden City Park area and is a product of the New Hyde Park School system, having attended Holy Spirit School and New Hyde Park Memorial High School.

For the past 14 years she has resided in Garden City Park with her husband Eric and her three children Kerri Ann 13, Ann Marie 10 and Kyle 5 years. They attend New Hyde Park Memorial High, Garden City Park School and Hillside Grade School respectively. Rudd's husband operates a heavy hauling business.

Prior to the birth of her children, Rudd worked for the Department of Defense in roles of increasing responsibility as a Communications and Computer Operator. While at the DOD she was tapped to serve as the Vice President to the Civilian Welfare Council, plus she was the head of the CPR and Red Cross First Aid Teams.

However, choosing to focus her attention on raising her children, Rudd decided to devote her energies to her family and community. Therefore, for the past 12 years, she has been very active in Girl Scouting and she has accrued more than 50 hours in leadership training. She currently serves multiple roles as a Junior and Cadet Leader, Service Team Member, Daisy consultant and Nominating Chairwoman. Further, Rudd is also a Nassau Council Delegate for scouting. Through her innovative efforts, she recently proposed and was awarded a Nassau Council grant for the "Park Olympics," an event that she will also chair.

In addition to scouting, Rudd also serves on the Board of Directors of The Garden City Park Generals Soccer Club. She is the Intramural Coordinator and Travel Director and is also the head coach for the girls Under 11 Travel Team.

Rudd is also involved in the school community and is the chairperson of the Building Level Team at the Garden City Park school. Plus, she has held various positions on the executive board of PTA. She currently is the chairwoman of Reflections and the Kindness and Justice Challenge Committees. During the summer, Rudd volunteers as a Bible school teacher.

According to Rudd, the central focus in all of her activities is to improve the quality of life for the children in the community. It is that drive and determination, combined with her daily connection to the schools and traditional family values that she intends to bring to the New Hyde Park/Garden City Park School Board of Education.