Mayor and Deputy Mayor Will Run on Village Party Slate

Nearly a week after Larry Speciner announced his candidacy for the Hometown Party in the March 18 Village of Mineola election, Mayor John P. Colbert and Deputy Mayor Lou Santosus announced their candidacy. Colbert and Santosus will run as Village Party candidates with Colbert running for mayor and Santosus running for trustee. The mayor's seat and two trustees positions are open.

"The Village Party is especially proud to be able to nominate the team of Mayor John P. Colbert and Deputy Mayor Louis Santosus, Jr. as the party's candidates for re-election to the offices of mayor and trustee respectively. This team has brought so many improvements to the quality of life in Mineola, while holding the line on taxes, that their selection as our candidates was the obvious and only choice. Their past accomplishments are evidence that their plans for the future will continue to bring us a stronger sense of community and a revitalization of our Village life," said Mr. Robert J. Walker, an attorney and partner in the firm of Gallagher, Walker, Bianco and Plastaras and president of the Village Party.

Mrs. Bonnie Parente, secretary of the Village Party, stated, "The leadership they have exhibited in initiatives such as the new Village Hall, Community Center, pool and firehouse improvements, makes our party confident that we are placing our hopes for the future of Mineola in the hands of the right team."

(The following biographies were submitted by the candidates.)

During his career John Colbert has worked for IBM as a communications specialist. He has also held such positions as Field Engineering Education Coordinator, Corporate Middle Management Specialist and Cost Accountant. With a keen understanding of finance, Colbert later embarked on a successful career as a Financial Planner specializing in insurance, corporate financial planning, estate planning and management consulting.

Before becoming mayor, Colbert served as village trustee and deputy mayor. Colbert was Finance Liaison, Budget Officer, Audit Committee chairman and Liaison to the Chamber of Commerce. In addition, Colbert served as liaison to the Fire Department, Water Department, Department of Public Works, Parks, Youth Services, Senior Citizen Affairs and CSEA/Teamsters.

During his terms as mayor, Colbert re-established an open dialogue between the Village Board of Trustees and the Mineola Chamber of Commerce. This continued relationship helps guide the Downtown Revitalization Program in progress today. With Colbert's leadership, a new Village Hall was built. Colbert has also established a new Community Center in Mineola that serves as home to many community organizations. He promoted a Village wide referendum for a new "Residents Only" Community Pool. Colbert promoted another successful community referendum for the expansion, renewal and rehabilitation of the Mineola Memorial Library. The Mineola Firehouse was expanded and a new ambulance purchased. Colbert has also been instrumental in securing substantial grants for the improvement of Mineola's downtown business district.

As Mayor, Mr. Colbert proposed that a Master Plan be developed for Mineola's future. He established new guidelines on the annual purchase of insurance for Mineola and he cosponsored a five-year recreation evaluation program for the Village parks and those fields used by the youth of the community. Colbert proposed and introduced the first Senior Citizens Advisory Committee. In addition, Colbert has established a new home for the Mineola Historical Society by creating their headquarters in Wilson Park.

Colbert led the effort to reduce solid waste costs for Mineola and for all the Villages in North Hempstead. He also negotiated with the New York State Department of Transportation to secure the pedestrian overpass at the Mineola Railroad Station. He serves on the North Hempstead Emergency Management Team.

Colbert has been and is involved in many civic activities and he is very people oriented. He has been the past president of the Mineola Kiwanis, was chosen as Kiwanian of the Year, member of the Knights of Columbus, Corpus Christi Council, past secretary of St. Mary's Holy Name Society, past chairman of Catholic Charities Drive, past president of Noxon Road School PTA, past State secretary, NYS PTA, MAA manager andcoach, and member of the Mineola Historical Society. Colbert has received a Service Award from the Mineola Volunteer Ambulance Corps, a Community Service Award from the Congregation Beth Shalom Chabad, the Community Service Award from PAL and numerous community awards from the Mineola Chamber of Commerce.

Colbert's finance administration has led to the receipt of multiple awards. Notwithstanding the Award for Capital Budget Procedures, the Nassau Citizens Budget Committee has again awarded the Village with the "Good Government Award," with merit, for operating procedures. Through careful budgeting and financial oversight, Mineola has increased its bond rating to an A2.

As mayor, Colbert has as his major priority the building of "community" in Mineola. He has campaigned for a cleaner Village and has vigorously enforced the laws regulating illegal apartments in single-family neighborhoods as well as in apartment houses.

Colbert is a 17-year resident of Mineola and lives at 167 Emory Road with his wife Eleanor. They have four children: Michael, Karyn and Kevin Pasqualina and Michele Colbert-Krantz

Louis Santosus, a lifelong resident of the Village of Mineola, attended Mineola Public Schools and graduated from Mineola High School. Santosus continued his education at the College of Aeronautics and New York Institute of Technology, earning a degree in mechanical technology.

Santosus is a homeowner residing at 157 Elderberry Road with his wife Patricia. Santosus and Patricia have two daughters, Patti and Bonnie and two sons Gary and Brian. He is retired from Verizon Communications where he held management positions in Engineering, Plant Staff and Human Resources. Santosus and his family are parishioners of Corpus Christi Church in Mineola.

Santosus, a former Mineola Fire Chief, was appointed to the position of Village Trustee in 1994 after having served previously as Village Trustee from 1983-1989. He was elected as Village Trustee in 1995, 1997 and 1999 and was appointed Deputy Mayor in April 2000. He is an active member of the Mineola Fire Department, as well as past president of the Volunteer and Exempt Firemen's Benevolent Association. His firematic activities also include membership in the International Association of Fire Chiefs, Southern New York Firemen's Association, Firemen's Association of the State of New York, Fire Chief's Council of Nassau County and former chairman of the First Battalion Chief's Organization. Santosus has been honored by both the Town of Hempstead and the Mineola Fire Department as Fireman of the Year.

Santosus has always worked for fire safety and has been a leader in establishing smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector legislation in the Village and has vigorously fought to eliminate unsafe and illegal basement apartments. He is a member of the Nassau County Critical Incidence Stress Team and was part of the Nassau County team that assisted the Western New York Ice Storm victims during the winter of 1998.

Santosus's other civic activities have included serving as past president of the Mineola High School Athletics Booster Club. Santosus was also a member of the Mineola Police Activity League and he was active as both an umpire and manager in the Mineola Athletic Association. He was also a member of the PTA and Mineola Music Parents Association. Santosus is proud to have played an integral role in the development of the athletic field behind the Mineola Pool and was an important part of the formation of the Mineola Junior Fire Department, which was formed as Explorer Post 160 of the Boy Scouts of America.

Santosus serves as liaison to the Mineola Memorial Library and worked closely with the construction team to bring about the new library at Mineola Memorial Park.