In Manhasset special district elections are frequently uncontested and they create as much excitement as uncontested village elections. Candidates encourage their families and friends to vote but relatively few turn out. This can be of little consequence in an uncontested election although it leaves the door open for a last minute write-in candidate to slip through. This year there are contests in both the Manhasset-Lakeville Fire and Water District and in the Manhasset Park District. Last week we profiled the incumbent candidate for the MLW/FD and this week we do the same for the Park District incumbent. In the next three issues before the election we will do the same for the other candidates.

It is our hope that in those articles we will be able to identify the issues in these elections and to make it clear why the various candidates are running for these offices. Special district elections in Manhasset have not, in the past, have had anything to do with political parties and there seems no reason why they should. We were proud, during the last election for the Manhasset Board of Education, when the League of Women Voters moderator of a debate congratulated the candidates on their behavior and the level of their debate. After the wrenching county and town elections we have just experienced, it would be good to know that these Manhasset elections will be contested on the issues with goodwill and civility.

E.F.B.