It looked as though for the second straight year, the Village of Mineola would have an uncontested election. The Mineola American reported last week that current Trustee Maryanne Warnecke had decided not to run for trustee and that the Village Party had nominated Kevin Reilly to run for her position. The Village Party was not expected to challenge Hometown Party candidate and current Trustee Linda Fairgrieve and the Hometown Party was not expected to challenge Reilly's candidacy. However, a third party has entered the picture, which means another candidate to challenge for the two trustee positions.

Last week, Mineola resident and attorney Jack Martins announced his candidacy for trustee. Martins will run under his newly created New Line Party. Mineola will have its first contested since 2000 when Warnecke, Fairgrieve and Warren Brinker vied for two trustee positions.

"The village residents deserve to make a choice," Martins said "There's an open seat. It shouldn't be something that someone can walk into."

Martins, who has a general law practice in Mineola, has spent the past four years as president of the Mineola Library Board. He is a member of the Lions Club, Kiwanis Club and former member of the Corpus Christi School Board. He is also active in the Corpus Christi Church.

"I have 30 years worth of contacts in this village. I think I can make a difference," Martins said.

Reilly, who is serving on the pool board, is set for his first campaign for trustee. "I really feel it's important that I try and give some time back to Mineola," he said. "Mineola is a very important community to me. I really want to take part in making Mineola a better place to live."

Reilly, who has been a resident of the village for 12 years, is a member of the Knights of Columbus, is active in the Corpus Christi Parish and has coached girls softball for Mineola PAL for the past four years.

As it stands, Fairgrieve, Reilly and Martins will be vying for two seats, with the top two vote recipients winning them. However, it is still uncertain if there will be any more candidates. Anyone else wishing to run has until Feb. 13 to return petitions to the office of the village clerk.

If there are any more candidates, the 2002 election could bring back memories of 1997 when current trustees Lou Santosus and Elizabeth Conlon ran with Martins for two trustees seats. Santosus received 2,165 votes and Conlon received 2,154 votes to remain on the board. Martins received 2,031.

Also, in the race for mayor that year, John P. Colbert defeated Scott Fairgrieve by only 13 votes.