Former park district employee to challenge ex boss in election

Joe Nikic

The former director of the district’s Parkwood Sports Complex has filed to challenge one of his former bosses, Great Neck Park District Commissioner Robert Lincoln, for a seat on the board of commissioners.

Chandev Perera, who served as Parkwood’s complex director from 2008 until March of this year, said his experience with the district qualifies him to serve as a commissioner.

“I see it from the point of view of having worked there and seeing the ins and outs of the daily ongoing of the park district,” he said. “I have an understanding better than anyone coming in. I see the different commissioners coming and going, as well as the superintendents and the different staff. I get along with everyone and the residents have gotten to know me.”

Lincoln, who is seeking his sixth term, said he intends to run on his record.

“I believe that my experience has demonstrated a good track record. I am open and responsive to all residents of the park district.,” Lincoln said. “I still work as hard as I did the first day I took office.”

A lifelong Great Neck resident, Lincoln worked for the Nassau County Vocational Education and Extension Board as it’s executive director and superintendent for 35 years before retiring in 2013.

He was elected for his first term to the park district’s Board of Commissioners in December 2000. Lincoln said he was proud of the work he and four other park district commissioners have done during his 15 years in office, especially in opening a more transparent government.

“We really introduced a lot of transparency above and beyond what you expect from government. Everybody’s important and we respect that. You can’t walk into the New York State Legislature and say ‘excuse me, I have a suggestion to make,’” he said. “I am very proud of that.”

The park district election will be held on Dec. 8.

Perera, who began working for the park district in 1992 as the director of Parkwood Tennis, said should he be elected he would look to put a limit on the number of terms a commissioner can serve.

“It could be a positive or it could be a negative. You can become stagnant and no fresh ideas come in,” he said. “If the park district changes, there are always people who have fresher ideas that are something to bring to the table. It should be a two to three term max.”

He added that there was no animosity between himself and Lincoln, who he worked under for 23 years before leaving the park district to work for the United States Tennis Association.

Lincoln said during his time as a commissioner he has helped rebuild and restore the district’s infrastructure including the Parkwood Pool, the Parkwood Ice Rink, and the Great Neck House.

He said he and the district’s other two commissioners, Daniel Nachmanoff and Frank Cilluffo, have been looking for opportunities to raise revenue without needing to raise taxes, which they were successful in doing this year.

“We’re holding the line on taxes. We are constantly looking for ways to generate non-tax revenue so that we can have programs but make taxes as affordable as possible,” Lincoln said.

He also said he thought it was the “wrong time” to change commissioners because the district is in the middle of important projects.

Perera said he had a good understanding of the budget because he worked on the budgets for Parkwood’s pool, ice skating rink, and tennis courts.

“If you can save money, then save money without cutting the services of what we do. Residents are used to high quality services and I know there’s a lot of spending for no reason,” he said. “It could be better managed. There are ways we can certainly do in saving money and not sacrificing anything.”

Lincoln, who has served as a member of the Great Neck Vigilant Fire Company for 51 years, said although he retired from his job two years ago, he did not believe it was time to leave his elected position.

“The time to move on for an elected official is when they lose their respect for the public and my respect is greater than it’s ever been,” he said.

Candidates interested in running for election were required to file their name with the secretary of the Board of Commissioners and submit a petition signed by 25 registered voters with the district by Oct. 24.

The district is split into four election districts.

Park election district one includes the Village of Kings Point, Saddle Rock Estates, and areas of the Village of Great Neck which are east of Middle Neck Road and north of Hicks Lane, as well as west of Middle Neck Road.

The polling site for district one is located at the Great Neck House at 14 Arrandale Ave.

Park election district two includes areas east of Middle Neck Road in the Village of Great Neck and the unincorporated areas of the Town of North Hempstead that are south of the Village of Great Neck and north of the Village of Kensington.

The polling site for district two is located at the E.M. Baker School at 69 Baker Hill Road.

Park election district three includes the Village of Great Neck Plaza, Village of Thomaston, and Village of Kensington.

The polling site for district three is located at the Great Neck Social Center at 80 Grace Avenue.

Park election district four includes the Village of Russell Gardens, the unincorporated areas of the Town of North Hempstead including the Great Neck Terrace Apartments, Lakeville, Upland, Lake Success Hills, and Lake Success Manor sections of Great Neck, and the other unincorporated areas bounded by Great Neck Road on the north and west, Northern Boulevard on the south, and Middle Neck Road to the east.

The polling site for district four is the Manhasset-Lakevlle Fire District’s Company #4 Firehouse on the corner of Jayson Avenue and Northern Boulevard in Great Neck.

Polls will be open from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Those who are registered with the Nassau County Board of Elections at an address within the Great Neck Park District at least 23 days prior to the Dec. 8 election date can vote.

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