John Nash admits he is a novice when it comes to running for political office.
The Navy veteran, who has been a partner at a Garden City law firm since 1980, is now hoping to use his political inexperience to his advantage in a bid to be elected to the Manhasset-Lakeville Fire and Water District Board of Commissioners.
Nash is running along with two other challengers to unseat incumbent Andrew DeMartin in the special district’s election on Dec. 13
“I’ve never run for public office before and I really don’t have any obligations and historical relations with people,” Nash said. “I’ll bring a fresh view from both a legal and business side of running a municipal corporation.”
After graduating from St. Francis College in Brooklyn in 1969, Nash went on to SUNY-Buffalo where he pursued course work as a graduate student in the physiology department.
Nash then enlisted in the Navy and served first in active and then reserve duty for 31 years before retiring with the rank of captain. During his time in the Navy, Nash worked as a commanding officer of a New London Reserve submarine repair unit and a Norfolk destroyer repair unit.
Nash, who lives in Manhasset, is also an U.S. Naval Academy interview officer. In that post, he works with students from Great Neck North and South High Schools, along with Manhasset and Chaminade high schools.
When he came off of active duty in the Navy, Nash began the pursuit of a career practicing law by earning a degree at Brooklyn Law School. His first foray into practicing law came when he served as assistant corporation council for the city of New York beginning in the late 1970s.
“I cut my teeth doing that, I worked for two and a half years as a lawyer in the city law department,” Nash said. “I’ve worked in municipal corporations.”
Nash is now a partner at the law firm of Sullivan, Papain, Block, McGrath and Cannavo, where he has worked since 1980.
With an extensive career practicing law, combined with the leadership gained from more than three decades serving in the Navy, Nash believes he has gained more than enough professional experience to tackle running the Manhasset-Lakeville Water and Fire District.
“I run a business essentially,” Nash said. “It’s a law firm, but it’s a business. I have to plan ahead. Make payroll. Keep my clients happy and not raise my costs for doing business and cutting into profit margins.”
After first volunteering with the Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Department in 2004, Nash said he began entertaining the idea of running for the water and fire board about a year ago.
In working with the Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Department, Nash has served on the department’s police unit and board of governors for Company #2, as well as working as an EMT.
“I had a big dissatisfaction with the way the board of commissioners were managing some of the fire department issues effecting my fellow firefighters,” Nash said. “A lot of inefficiency and a lot of stagnation in being inventive and thoughtful.”
The biggest issue Nash has expressed disappointment with is what he said is an increase of 13 percent in the tax bill for the water and fire departments.
“I don’t raise my costs for what I charge my clients to cover the work I do for them,” Nash said. “I learn how to work with what I have. I think I’ll bring a ton of managerial efficiency and a business background. That’s going to be my approach to the commissioners board.”
And in looking at the approach of the fire and water district’s board of commissioners, Nash has found one flaw, which he said has led to problems for the district.
“I think a commissioner needs to have a full-time allegiance to one municipal (organization),” Nash said. “I think it’s important that you don’t have any other conflicts with working in other municipal agencies.”
And that is something, Nash won’t have any problems with.
“What do you do if there’s two emergencies?” Nash said. “What hat do you wear? I’m just going to wear one hat and focus on that job.”
