The Village of Mineola has a new trustee when Paul Pereira was elected last week over longtime trustee Linda Fairgrieve, who loses her seat on the board after eight years of service. Trustee Paul Cusato was re-elected and trustee Tom Kennedy, who ran unopposed, was elected to his position.

In a race for two seats on the board, both two-year terms, Fairgrieve and Cusato of the Hometown Party were challenged by Pereira of the New Line Party. Pereira collected 1,218 votes; Cusato collected 1,175 votes and Fairgrieve collected 1,093 votes. Since the two candidates with the most votes were elected to the board, Cusato was re-elected and Pereira becomes the newest trustee on the board.

Kennedy, also of the New Line Party, was appointed last year to fill the seat occupied by John DaVanzo when DaVanzo chose to retire. Kennedy collected 1,298 votes in an uncontested race. He will now serve a one-year term and will be up for re-election in March 2009.

"I'm humbled and honored. It was an incredible experience for me. I'm humbled by the support I've gotten and the fact that people think enough of me. It's pretty amazing," said trustee-elect Pereira. "It's a new challenge and a new chapter in my life that I'm looking forward to and I'm excited about."

The Hometown Party's campaign strategy centered around maintaining a two-party system. Now, the New Line Party, with Pereira, Kennedy, Mayor Jack Martins and Deputy Mayor Larry Werther, holds a 4-1 majority. But Pereira believes that people recognized that when you go to the polls, you elect people and not parties. "It's about one board, a group of people working for the betterment of the community as a whole," he said.

Cusato was thankful that the residents of Mineola voted to re-elect him but, for him, it is also bittersweet that the board will be losing Fairgrieve, who was his running mate in 2004, 2006 and 2008. "I do feel honored that they voted for me. It feels absolutely great but it is bittersweet," said Cusato, the only Hometown Party member now on the board. "We talked every day. Linda really loves the village."

In a letter to the editor in this newspaper, Fairgrieve thanked the community for supporting her in the eight years she served as trustee. At eight years, Fairgrieve had the longest tenure as any board member, having been elected in 2000. In addition to her service as a village trustee, she also chaired the Mineola Mustang Run.

Pereira gave credit to the trustee whose seat he will take in April as well as any trustee that serves the village. "Eight years is a long time and whether you agree or don't agree with what Mrs. Fairgrieve has done, you certainly have to respect the fact that she has dedicated eight years of her life to what she felt was in the best interests of the village. I commend her and congratulate her on that and the same thing goes for Mr. Cusato," he said.

For Kennedy, it is his first election to the board after being appointed to fill DaVanzo's seat. Kennedy maintains a tremendous amount of respect for DaVanzo. Kennedy joined the board last year and has conducted himself with class in the position.

Reorganization will be held on April 7 during which Cusato, Kennedy and Pereira will be sworn in.