Election for board of education trustee positions in the Island Trees School District will be held on Tuesday, May 16 from noon-9 p.m. at Michael F. Stokes School. Current trustees Charles Bambino and Kenneth Fazio are not seeking reelection. Christine Holt and Joseph Buda are running unopposed for these seats. All terms on the Island Trees Board of Education are for three years. For more information call 520-2100 or visit www.islandtrees.org. The last day of registration budget vote and trustee election is Thursday, May 11. Information was provided by Joseph Buda, however several attempts to contact candidate Christine Holt were unsuccessful.

Joseph Buda, 39, is seeking election to the Island Trees Board of Education for the second time. Running unopposed, the retired Fire Department of New York captain said having three children in the school district gives him an interest in the education of children.

"I am concerned with the welfare of our children and I feel I can make a difference," he added.

School safety and taxes are the most important issues currently facing the Island Trees School District, according to Buda.

"We need full-time school security officers to protect our children, faculty and school buildings," he added. "Independent auditors are necessary to make certain our tax dollars are being spent wisely."

Buda received a bachelor's degree in Business Management and is currently working toward a master's in education/special education at Touro College. Within the community he volunteers as a coach for Island Trees Little League baseball. He and his wife Noreen live in Levittown and have three children; Samantha and Raychel, who attend Island Trees Middle School and Joseph, who attends Stokes Elementary School.