Serving The Willistons, Albertson, Herricks, Mineola, and Searingtown
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Friday, March 18, 2016
Vol. 65, No. 12
NASSAU GOP CHAIR BACKING TRUMP
MAGANO TOUTS ECONOMIC FUTURE
OFFICIALS RALLY FOR 6TH PRECINCT
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Mineola votes yes to village developments Pereira, Cusato re-elected trustees in heated race fought over 4 projects By N o a h M a n s k a r
PHOTO BY noah manskar
A Mineola voter scans her ballot at the polls Tuesday evening. Electronic scanning machines were used in village elections for the first time this year.
Village of Mineola voters re-elected incumbent trustees Paul Pereira and Paul Cusato on Tuesday, signaling their approval of the residential developments the Village Board has touted as a boon to Mineola. New Line Party candidate Pereira received 911 votes and Cusato 832 on the Hometown Party line. Challengers and former village mayors John Colbert of the Save Our Suburb Party
and Larry Werther of the Mineola My Home Party respectively received 733 votes and 632 votes. The incumbents’ win proved their message of smart growth and financial responsibility overcame the “scare tactics” the challengers and their supporters used, Pereira and Cusato said. “This demonstrated that the people of Mineola were not going to be tricked into finding an issue or a red herring when there wasn’t one,” Pereira said. Continued on Page 56
Ex mayor, incumbent win E.W. race By N o a h M a n s k a r
Sitting Trustee Christopher Siciliano retained his seat TuesThe winners of two seats on day with 339 votes, and former East Williston’s Village Board Mayor Anthony Casella won the both have local government ex- open seat with 256 votes. Former East Williston school perience, but only one was an board President Ellen Ritz came incumbent. in third with 79 votes. “You said you’d never go back, but I’m going back, and I’m looking forward to it,” said Casella, the Better East Williston Party candi-
date, on Tuesday night. Siciliano, the Neighborhood Part candidate, said he is “very thankful” to stay on the board. He thanked outgoing Trustee Robert Vella for his service to the village. Vella was elected with Siciliano in 2012 and decided not to pursue re-election this year. “I love the job and I’m looking forward to another four years,” Siciliano said. Efforts to reach Common
Sense Party candidate Ritz on Wednesday morning were unavailing. Casella’s return to the Village Board could push East Williston further toward signing the water-service agreement it has brokered with Williston Park. Casella made finalizing the agreement the foundation of his campaign. He opposes the village’s $7.5 million proposal for Continued on Page 56
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