Angelo Ferrara, a 30-year resident of New Hyde Park, has been a North Hempstead Town Councilman for the last six years and has always been active in the community. Prior to being voted into office he was the president of the Greater Herricks Civic Association and for 17 years was a Merillon Little League Association coach.

In an interview with Ferrara, he told The Illustrated, "I am running again for office because I believe North Hempstead can do better with people from both major parties rather than one. Therefore, my focus for the next four years will be to continue to improve services especially to the southern tier of our town and to hold the line on taxes.

"I will work with state and county officials to change from annual property assessments to a five or ten year period and I am currently working with a local real estate developer to create affordable senior housing. Further, I will work to get subsidies from the county and state to encourage developers to provide a percentage of new construction for housing for our young people and work force.

"I am also working on legislation to protect our residents from unscrupulous contractors, to hire more code enforcement personnel in order to protect the lives of our residents and to tie any future raises for our elected officials and commissioners to the union contract results."

Ferrara states that his reputation is that of a fiscal conservative, social moderate and someone who works well with both sides of the aisle. But, he stressed he puts residents' interests before politics. He said he doesn't hesitate to challenge both parties when they aren't doing the right thing for the residents.

In his time in office, Ferrara has protected Park Circle from being used as a pumping station, thereby protecting the park land. He also authorized legislation for a four-year term limit for the town clerk, and said he has worked diligently with state and local officials on both the Hillside Avenue and Jericho Turnpike projects. He helped to bring flower beds to Jericho Turnpike and forced the state to put blinking safety lights on Hillside Avenue by Manor Oaks School in order to protect the school children and had turning lanes installed on New Hyde Park Road and soon they will be installed on Nassau Boulevard onto Jericho Turnpike.

Ferrara also had a hand in creating "pocket parks" along Jericho Turnpike in New Hyde Park. He also helped in the restoration of both Tully Park and Broadway Park much to the delight of the children and adults in those areas.

Ferrara concluded, "As the only Republican on the North Hempstead Town Board, I have worked very hard to raise the questions that needed asking thus ensuring that the two-party system works within the town for the betterment of the residents."

Ferrara is on numerous boards supporting the efforts of both charitable and fraternal organizations including Cellini Lodge, Mineola Lions Club, County Seat Kiwanis and Knights of Columbus. He and his wife Patricia have been married for 39 years and are the parents of five children and three grandchildren.

Dennis Mortensen is running to capture the Third District Councilmatic District seat on the North Hempstead Town Board.

He has been employed by New York City as a Stationary Engineer with the Department of Education for the past 16 years and is a member of Local No. 891, Operating Engineers.

Mortensen served on the Mineola School Board of Education for eight years and during that time he served as president for two years, vice-president for two years and trustee for four years.

He was recognized, at the time, by both Republican and Democratic elected officials for his efforts to bring better educational opportunities to the children attending the Mineola Public Schools.

The programs Mortensen originated included a universal pre-kindergarten for all children instead of a lottery system, high school programs such as the Tech Prep, Regents Plus Help program and The Hampton Street School project.

In addition to the education programs, he received, on behalf of the school district, a prestigious award from the New York State Alliance for the Arts. During his tenure on the Mineola School Board, the school was recognized by The Match program as one of the top 10 percent of school districts in the United States. He helped with the planning that allowed the Meadow Drive School to become nationally recognized as a Blue Ribbon School. One of his last actions, as president of the school board, was to sign an energy performance contract that made it possible for the school district to replace boilers and lighting at no additional cost to the taxpayers. Mortensen commented, "This was a win, win situation for all Mineola residents."

In a discussion with The Illustrated Mortensen said, "I would like to study the old maps of the area and reinstate the bicycle paths connected to every town park in the Town of North Hempstead. Further, I will make sure that the board holds the line on taxes and that they institute a more efficient energy program. Now that Anthony D'Urso, who was an engineer, is off the board, I feel that the board needs another engineer on the board and I am that engineer. I am one that could provide much needed guidance to board members and to the town especially regarding heat management problems."

Mortensen continued, "Of upmost importance is to institute a program that will deal with stratospheric ozone depletion to reduce the amount of hydrocarbons in the atmosphere. A first step would be to introduce to the town a more efficient way to recycle air-conditioners, refrigerators and air-purifiers and aerosol cans and to do it with the same guidelines as required for commercial use."

Mortensen, a lifelong resident of Mineola, lives with this wife Linda, of 27 years and their two daughters Victoria and Katrina. Mortensen serves on the Mineola Scholarship Fund, is a member of the Mustang Run Committee and is a member of Corpus Christi Parish.