By Jessica DeStefano
In what amounted to a record turnout for an off-year election, newcomers Jeffrey Pravato and Teresa Spinosa won trustee seats over former Massapequa Park Mayor Camillo Giannattasio and incumbent trustee Gail Klubnick. Harry Jacobson, who was running to fill an unexpired term, also won.
Spinosa and Pravato, of the People's Rights First Party, won 1,204 and 1,239 votes respectively. Giannattasio and Klubnick won 792 and 885 votes respectively, and Jacobson won 1,410 votes.
In a normal off-year election in Massapequa Park, the average number of voters is between 600 to 800. This year, over 2,000 residents showed up to vote. In one district, an additional voting machine had to be opened.
"I'm proud of our village residents," Spinosa said. "It was an historical turnout for a trustee election and residents' voices were loud and clear that they wanted change. I look forward to working for the village and serving its residents."
"The residents made it known that they wanted a fresh vision for Massapequa Park," Pravato said. "Clearly, the experience the New Village Freedom Party was bringing to the table was the kind of experience residents didn't want. They wanted more open government, and a continuation of the good communication that now exists between the people of Massapequa Park and the administration."
"I'd like to thank the Massapequa residents for coming out and supporting our administration," said Mayor James Altadonna. "I look forward to working with Harry, Teresa and Jeff, and I am very excited about the future of our village."