There was a time not long ago when Democrats were strangers to the Town of Hempstead Board. However, that all changed last November when not one, but three Democrats won seats on the Hempstead Town Board for the first time since 1905. N. Scott Banks was one of the three to win a seat, hoping to make changes that would benefit the town's residents.

Next week, on Nov. 7, Banks will look to retain his seat in a special election for the second councilmanic district, which includes areas such as West Hempstead, Stewart Manor, Franklin Square, Elmont, Floral Park, Garden City, and Garden City South. His opponent is Garden City resident Joseph J. Kearney, who has served on the Hempstead Town Board since May 1989. This will be the first election under the new councilmanic system.

Among the issues he is concerned with are business development, maintaining the town's roads and parks and making sure all of the communities are well represented.

Banks, a West Hempstead resident for the past 14 years, said some of the communities in the second councilmanic district, such as Elmont, Franklin Square and West Hempstead, are experiencing different problems than some of the villages are. Those communities, he said are dealing with issues such as the lack of business development and lack of tentative services. "That's not just in West Hempstead. It's throughout the Town of Hempstead, particularly areas of Elmont that I have visited many times where the people feel they are not getting enough of the town's services despite the surpluses of revenues," he said.

Councilman Banks said he would like to see an effort to beautify the communities in the district that need it and improve the quality of life for areas that need the Town of Hempstead's services. "I think you have to get in the trenches with people and start dealing with their lives and what issues are important to them," Banks said.

Since the second councilmanic district is composed of both communities which are villages and those which aren't, Banks said he would like the town to provide for both. "I think what's important is starting to do something for the villages. I support trying to allocate some of the sales tax revenue to the villages. It's a pittance right now but it's a step in the right direction," he said.

Banks said he would like to see the infrastructure of the town maintained, meaning the upkeep of roads, parks and business districts so they don't become eyesores.

He said there are areas such as an area in Elmont west of Meacham Avenue where roads have been neglected. "The streets are cracked. They have potholes. They haven't been done in years. We have a surplus in the Town of Hempstead. Those streets have got to be dug up and repaved. Those people in those communities pay a high share of taxes and they should have the same rights and privileges as anybody else. They've been neglected."

Since the Town of Hempstead is now made up of six newly created districts, Banks said he would like to see the town board meet in each of the areas to give residents the opportunity to get more involved in government.

Banks said another issue that concerns him is illegal housing in the Town of Hempstead. The biggest tax to go up every year is the school tax, Banks said. Those who are living in illegal apartments and have children who are being educated in the town's schools aren't paying their fair share of taxes. As a result, an unfair tax burden is placed on legal residents, Banks said. "We have got to do more in the Town of Hempstead to enforce existing illegal housing laws," he added.

Banks said he proposed appointing a task force for illegal housing in the Town of Hempstead. "I know the Town of Hempstead doesn't have enough building inspectors," he said. "We have to build a strategy to deal with these circumstances."

Using the Town of Hempstead's surplus to improve services is also something Banks is in favor of. "I think the Town of Hempstead should have a surplus. I think it's great that we have a surplus. But, I think that some of the money has to be put back into the communities too," he said. "You have a surplus, utilize your monies and do it right."

Since being elected last year, Banks has been proud to be serving on the board. He said regardless of what happens next week, he is proud of what has been accomplished. "I think the time I've been here has been one of accomplishment and pride. I think I've distinguished myself and I think I've earned the respect of my community. I hope that the residents feel I've given something back to them because they've given something to me," he said.

One of the initiatives Banks is proud of is sponsoring legislation to hold night meetings at Hempstead Town Hall. "For years, it never happened. I think it brings together people who haven't been part of the process and who want to be able to participate in government," Banks said. "By having open night meetings, we've expanded the ability for community groups and residents to come in and articulate their concerns about their communities."

Another benefit the town board has seen in recent years, Banks said, is there is more discussion on issues of importance. This can be attributed to the fact that over the past year, there were both Republicans and Democrats serving on the board. "I think we have to debate issues and discuss issues with our political counterparts as well as the representatives of the people of the communities," said Banks.

Another issue Banks fought for this past year is a public nuisance law that helps to protect the quality of life for residents and doesn't bring down areas. He pointed to the Courtesy Hotel in West Hempstead as an example of an area that has brought down a community. Such an establishment, Banks feels, should be dealt with because it hurts both the residents and the surrounding businesses. Banks said it has been a concern of his since 1995.

Although Banks pushed for a stringent public nuisance law, he is satisfied with the one that was passed. Once elected to the board, Banks put together a proposal that was based on a public nuisance law that exists in the Town of Babylon. However, the board passed a different public nuisance law, one that he feels is too complicated and overly broad. "I don't want to propose a law that is going to be struck down because it was drafted improperly," Banks said.

Banks said he was looking for bipartisan support in passing the public nuisance law. However, he was met with opposition and the end result was a weaker law, he said. "Rather than working with me on a really good law, the Republicans rushed through their provisions. The process of government should not be rushed and beat the other side."

Another accomplishment Banks is proud of introducing is legislation, which passed, to eliminate fees charged for groups to use Town of Hempstead facilities. "They're doing something for the community and then they're asked to pay a tax to the town when, in fact, we've already paid for these facilities," he said.

But, perhaps, what Banks believes in most is handling problems for the people of the Town of Hempstead. "The residents don't know where to turn sometimes," he said.

He said he is in favor of legislation that would require the department within the town to notify a resident who called with a complaint what action is being taken within 48 hours. "That will be proposed very shortly," he said.

With less than a week left before the election, Banks is hoping to retain a seat on the board and work for some of the issues that concern him as a resident of the district. "I hope to be in the community dealing with issues," he said. "I don't have all the answers and all the ideas. I get them from the residents. You have to keep an open mind. You have to see what other communities are doing."

Banks called the Town of Hempstead a great community. However, he believes that things could be better. "If you accept the status quo, then that's what you're going to get," he said. "If you're willing to think and have new ideas and new concepts and work with the other side, then things will change for the better. We have a great opportunity now in the Town of Hempstead with the councilmatic seats to really improve the respective communities."

Even though Banks is running in the second councilmatic district, he vows to be a representative for the entire Town of Hempstead.

In a district such as the second councilmanic, which contains areas that have traditionally garnered Republican votes, Banks knows he is in for a tough election. However, he is hoping residents will recognize his commitment to the community rather than to politics, he said. "I think that's what we need in the Town of Hempstead, a commitment to people as opposed to politics."

Banks said he is looking forward to having a town board working in a bipartisan way for the benefit of the residents of the town. "We have to be careful not to revert back to what happened in the past. When we have one party ruling in the county, we had a $409 million hole in our budget," he said.

Garden City resident Joseph J. Kearney has served on the Hempstead Town Board since May 1989 and he points to the many accomplishments of the town board in those 11 years as he looks to retain his council seat in the Nov. 7 special election for the second councilmanic district. This will be the first election under the new councilmanic system and Kearney is running against fellow incumbent N. Scott Banks.

On a townwide level, Kearney is very proud of the sound financial footing that the Hempstead Town Board, under Republican leadership, has maintained. According to Kearney, this strong financial footing didn't happen by chance and did not happen overnight. "It happened by strong and good fiscal management," said Kearney. "As a consequence, it is reflected in our bond rating which is, in my opinion, spectacular. It is one of the best in the state, certainly the best for a town our size."

Kearney noted that he is especially pleased that on a townwide level, the board has been able to cut the workforce and save millions of dollars while maintaining important town services. "Our parks are some of the best in the state and we've really done a good job in terms of giving more for less," stated Kearney. He is also very proud that the town has taken the lead in senior citizen housing, keeping seniors in the communities that they have been an active part of for so many years. Kearney noted that keeping these seniors in the area is not only good for them and for their families, but for the economy as well. He explained that as seniors get older and want to move out of their houses into senior housing, they put their houses on the market which is good for the economy of the town.

The town's achievements with regard to the environment are also something that Kearney is very proud of. An example of this, he said, was the dedication of the Norman J. Levy Park and Preserve late last month. This area was a landfill that the town was able to convert into a beautiful preserve. Kearney also noted that this was able to be done at a cost savings of $40 million. He explained that if the town had done what the DEC recommended, and handled the landfill in the traditional way which would be to cap it, the cost would have been $60 million and all the town would have had was a big hill. "We did it ourselves," said Kearney. "Now, as a result we turned a garbage dump into a beautiful park and preserve."

As far as the second district is concerned, Kearney noted that he has accomplished much in the areas now encompassed in the second councilmanic district. One of the first things that Kearney mentioned was the work he did with the late Senator Norman Levy, and residents of Garden City and surrounding areas when the Wall Street hours changed. Kearney stated that some of the residents on the committee who now had to be at work at an earlier hour, along with Levy and himself worked for nearly two years to get a direct train into the city.

Kearney explained that one of the accomplishments of which he is most proud is also one of his goals for the future, if re-elected, and that is to watch the development at Roosevelt Field. He noted that this has always been a prime concern to him, because he wants to see the downtown business areas protected. In the past, Kearney worked with the Village of Garden City, the chamber of commerce, and others in surrounding communities to prevent the further growth of the mall and to stop Saks Fifth Avenue from moving from Franklin Avenue. He said that he will do whatever he can in order to monitor the growth at the mall which has a negative impact on surrounding downtowns.

The HUB is also an issue that Kearney is concerned about. He said he believes that the Village of Garden City and other surrounding communities need to play a major role in that development in order to protect the environment and the downtown business areas.

Another issue that Kearney worked with area residents and other elected officials on was the concern about freight being brought through his district. This was a real concern to residents and Kearney worked in ensure that their would be no freight, ash or garbage being run through the Village of Garden City, Stewart Manor, Floral Park or Bellerose.

Kearney is currently working with the ZIP code committee in Garden City to try to eliminate businesses that do not pay village taxes from using the Garden City address. "It affects the identity of the village, it affects the benefit that the village should be getting and they are not getting from those entities, rather those entities are profiting on the Garden City name," said Kearney.

One of the things that Kearney prides himself on is his ability to work with other government officials in the local areas in order to get things done in his communities. "I pride myself on being part of a team, from the county level and the state level, working with Vinnie Muscarella in the Legislature, John Ciotti in the other part of the second councilmanic district, with Tom Alfano in the Assembly and Maureen O'Connell in the Assembly and Kemp Hannon and Michael Balboni in the Senate," stated Kearney. He noted that the teamwork among all these officials has helped get grant money and such for the different communities.

Going forward, Kearney said he wants to continue to work hard for the villages and the unincorporated areas in the second councilmanic district. One community project he would like to see accomplished in his area is the cleanup of Hempstead Turnpike.

One of his strongest traits, said Kearney, is his ability to listen. "People talk and I listen, I am a consensus builder," said Kearney. "I can get our senators, I can get the village government, the assemblypeople, and the county legislators working together and that is something that I think you need to have in this day and age in local government - someone who can build a consensus and get things done. I think I've been able to do that."

According to Kearney, someone once asked him what he was going to do for West Hempstead, and his response was that he plans to do for West Hempstead exactly what he plans to do for all the communities in his district, which includes areas such as Stewart Manor, Franklin Square, Elmont, Floral Park, Garden City, and Garden City South. "I'm going to work hard for everybody. Every constituent, every person in that district is important. Every person in that district has a right to be heard, to be listened to," said Kearney. He went on to note that the concerns of his constituents are real concerns to him, because "no one lives in a vacuum." He went on to comment on the diversity of his district noting, "It's a fantastic district in terms of opportunity. We have an immigrant population in Elmont, we have a population such as Garden City and Stewart Manor. We are a diverse district and that is something that I think is fantastic but it also means it needs someone who can bring everyone together for the common good, for the betterment of all the people in the district, and I am committed to that," said Kearney. "I am committed to working hard for everyone in the district."

According to Kearney he has enjoyed his first campaign under the new councilmanic ward system. He noted that it's much easier to get around and talk to the people in just his district rather than trying to get to the approximately 700,o00 people who live townwide. "The type of campaign is different," said Kearney. "It's a very personal, hands-on, door-to-door approach and I find it very rewarding because I happen to like people and I'm comfortable around people and I enjoy being with them and I enjoy listening to them." He said that he is not much of a talker, when asked he will express his opinion but for the most part he likes to hear what others have to say. His ability to listen and act upon what he hears are among what Kearney sees as being his strongest attributes as an elected official. He said that he has truly enjoyed this campaign because he has been able to get out and talk to so many people. He also commented on the warmth and hospitality he has received from his constituents as he has walked door-to-door. "There's" a lot of work to be done and I am ready, willing, and certainly capable of doing it," concluded Kearney on his campaign.

In addition to his work as a Hempstead Town Councilman, Kearney also is counsel to the law firm of Nixon Peabody LLP in their Garden City office. He is a former member of the Nassau County Board of Assessment Review. He also served at one time with the United States Central Intelligence Agency. He is a member of the College Council of SUNY Old Westbury and serves on the board of the National Foundation of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart. He and his wife, Terri, have two children.