Serving Port Washington, Manorhaven, Flower Hill, Baxter Estates, Port Washington North, Sands Point
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Friday, June 24, 2022
Vol. 7, No. 25
Port WashingtonTimes HEALTH, WELLNESS AND BEAUTY
SCHREIBER RUNNER MY FATHER’S PLACE SETS PACE IN GLEN COVE PAGE 50
PAGES 25-28
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Popeleski beats Avena in race for mayorship People’s Working Party sweep elections, unseating mayor and deputy mayor BY ST E V E N K E E H N E R Led by Trustee John Popeleski, The People’s Working Party candidates won all three open seats in Manorhaven’s elections Tuesday by narrow margins, unseating Mayor Jim Avena and Deputy Mayor Rita Di Lucia in the process. Popeleski defeated Avena 381 votes to 351. For two trustee seats, incumbent Harry Farina with 376 votes and Monica Ildefonso with 364 eked out razorthin victories over Dan Garcia with 361 votes and Deputy Mayor Rita Di Lucia with 359. Avena and Popeleski have been mayor and trustee, respectively, since 2016. “We achieved a lot during my six years as mayor and I’m very proud of our accomplishments,” Avena said. “I wish Mayor-elect Popeleski and his board the best and will help in any way I can to ensure a smooth transition.” A $5,000 fine handed down by the village Ethics Board, which Popeleski had described as an “intricate scheme” by the board, added to the campaign’s animosity. “[Voters] followed me. They believed in me,” said Popeleski. “And the political ethics violation, people didn’t pay attention to it.” Popeleski had alleged that Avena
and Gerard Terry, the former North Hempstead Democratic Party head, had been on a quest to get him out of the race. Avena and Terry denied the claim. “We’re talking about trees and cars. That’s what we’re really, really talking about and it’s very upsetting,” Popeleski said. “Unfortunately, it’s like a lot of people said to me: I wasn’t set up, but one day, they would use this against me. They found their opportunity to use the whole situation against me to smear my name.” He thanked his supporters and said that he hopes to win over those who voted against him. Popeleski said his biggest aim is to save taxpayers their money. He also wants to continue working on the village’s sewer systems, parks and roads. “I’m just hoping that the people who didn’t vote for me who were looking at the ethics thing, I’m hoping to win their confidence over,” he said. Popeleski, who is openly gay, acknowledged his victory’s significance. He claimed that his varied leadership successes spoke for themselves. “Now, to be the mayor of a village as a gay man, it’s wonderful,” he said. “I’m very, very proud to serve the residents of this village.” The People’s Working Party will
PHOTO COURTESY OF PORT WASHINGTON SCHOOL DISTRICT
Students at Guggenheim Elementary School dressed up in red, white and blue for their annual Flag Day celebration. See story on page 49.
N. Hempstead Democrats approve new districts BY B R A N D ON D U FF Y
hour meeting. The vote came after the four In a party-line vote, the North North Hempstead Democrats reHempstead Town Board approved jected a request by Town Supervisor a redistricting proposal Thursday Jennifer DeSena, who was elected as night that will reshape the town’s six a Republican, to table the proposal. “Looking at the four maps it’s councilmanic districts for the next Continued on Page 43 10 years during a heated nearly five- easy to make a compelling argument
that it was an attempt to preserve political power for the next decade through gerrymandering,” DeSena said. “We have time to make sure as many of our residents’ voices are heard as possible in this process, as Continued on Page 10
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