Though three Village of Great Neck incumbents were defeated last week by the Voice of the Village Party in a landslide victory, elected officials from other villages in Great Neck said they don’t think the loss is emblematic of a larger opposition movement across the peninsula.
“They had long-time residents and newer residents that felt very strongly about certain issues,” said Village of Kings Point Mayor Kalnick at the final Great Neck Village Officials Association meeting Thursday. “They have a right to voice their feelings at the polls.”
Kalnick said he believed the dissatifaction with elected officials was limited to the Village of Great Neck.
He said the most important thing for village officials is addressing concerns, communicating with residents and providing services.
“We’ve had opposition in our village before,” Kalnick said.
Last Tuesday, Pedram Bral beat out Village of Great Neck Mayor Ralph Kreitzman with more than 72 percent of the vote — 1,040 to 391.
Bral’s running mates Anne Mendelson and Ray Plakstis Jr. both won the two open trustee spots with 980 and 1,020 votes respectively, beating out incumbent trustees Mitch Beckerman, who received 346 votes, and Jeff Bass, who received 350 votes, as well as Lone Bridge Party candidates Sam Yellis, who received 136 votes.
Residents waited in line for an average of 25 minutes to vote, with the line extending at a point outside the front entrance of Great Neck House and turning on Arrandale Avenue. The line inside Great Neck House wrapped around the room four times.
Plakstis said on election day that people are tired of long-term politicians, and that he wouldn’t be surprised if the outpouring of opposition candidates of the Village of Great Neck would spread to other municipalities on the Great Neck peninsula.
But many village officials said they disagreed.
Village of Saddle Rock Mayor Dan Levy said while the Voice of the Village candidates were very well organized, he doesn’t think opposition will spread to other villages.
“If someone’s organization grows this strong, they are welcome to the seat,” Levy said of his village.
Levy was elected president of the GNVOA Thursday, succeeding Kreitzman, whose two-year term was up.
Village of Kensington Mayor Susan Lopatkin will remain vice president, and Village of Great Neck Plaza Mayor Jean Celender will remain treasurer.
Levy praised Kreitzman as mayor, saying that when he assumed the role as mayor himself, one person he knew he could call was Kreitzman.
Village of Lake Success Mayor Ron Cooper said the longevity of village officials in office should have no bearing on whether they are re-elected, if those officials continue to produce new ideas.
He said he isn’t worried about opposition similar to the Village of Great Neck spreading to his village.
“I will choose whether to run or not to run,” Cooper said. “If people want me to continue that’s their call.”
Village of Thomaston Mayor Steven Weinberg said he hasn’t even thought about opposition could spread to the other villages and he looks forward to working with the newly elected Village of Great Neck mayor and trustees.
Village of Great Neck Estates Deputy Mayor William Warner described the 2015 Village of Great Neck elections as a “blip” – not representative of a larger movement on the Great Neck peninsula.
Village of Great Neck Plaza Mayor Jean Celender said she also looks forward to working with the newly elected Village of Great Neck officials.
“The residents of the Village of Great Neck came out in large numbers on June 16, electing a new mayor and two new trustees,” Celender said. “I congratulate Dr. Pedram Bral, Anne Mendelson and Raymond Plakstis Jr. on their victory and wish them the best of luck.”
