Petruccio opts to not run for NHP mayor

Michael Scro And Richard Tedesco

Village of New Hyde Park Deputy Mayor Robert Lofaro declared his candidacy for mayor seat this week following current Mayor Dan Petruccio’s announcement that he will not run for re-election in the village’s March election.

Petruccio announced his decision to not seek a fourth term for mayor as a member of the Village Party during last Wednesday’s village board meeting. 

Lofaro announced his candidacy in a press release issued by the Village Party on Monday, saying it is “logical with my experience and knowledge of the village’s needs and requirements, that I look to occupy this role.”

Village Party incumbents Lawrence Montreuil and Donald Barbieri also announced that they will seek re-election as village trustees and Christopher Devane will seek re-election as village justice.

Petruccio has served as mayor for 12 years and will complete his third term in office at the end of March. 

At last week’s meeting he said his health was good and his family was a not a factor in his decision to step down.

“My title is mayor, but I’ve been part of a team for the past twelve years. When I set out to take this job, I had some ideas I wanted to accomplish, and I feel that I’ve done that,” Petruccio said.  “I think its time for me to make room for someone with fresh and new ideas.”

Lofaro is a 14-year veteran of the New Hyde Park village board, currently in the middle of his fourth term as a village trustee, and a longtime political ally of Petruccio.

Following Petruccio’s announcement, Lofaro said he had hoped Petruccio would run again.

“We tried to convince [Petruccio] to stay on,” Lofaro said. 

Currently the director of a major global investment bank, Lofaro said he is proud of the role he’s played in helping manage the village’s finances. New Hyde Park recently received a long-term bond rating of AA from Standard and Poor’s, which described New Hyde Park’s financial position as “strong and expected to remain as such.”  

“We run the finances of the village like a business and that had been our objective from when I got in office 14 years ago. I’m a taxpayer too and I’m going to make spending decisions that are very well thought out,” Lofaro said.

If elected mayor, he said would want  “to continue to do the things that have worked well for us.” He said he also wanted to “reach out to the community” to find people interested in serving in village government. 

If he succeeds Petruccio, Lofaro will need to appoint someone to fill his current seat on the board.

His trustee running mates, Barbieri and Montreuil, are now completing their third terms. Devane will be running for his second full term as village justice.  

In the Village Party release, the Village Party candidates cited the recent reconstruction of nearly one and a half miles of village roads, which began in 2001, among their accomplishments. They also noted that bidding on the final phase of Operation Main Street, the project to upgrade the village’s business district, will soon begin.  

In a statement,  Petruccio said he is “confident that the proposed candidates will continue to make sure our residents are provided with outstanding municipal services while ensuring a high level of financial management and controls.” 

At last week’s board meeting, Petruccio praised the work of village Superintendent of Public Works Tom Gannon and village Clerk Treasurer Cathryn Hillman for their service.

“It’s a great time for the village, and I’m very comfortable in passing the gavel to whoever will serve after me,” Petruccio said. “Like Michael Jordan, I want to get out while the game is good.”

Reflecting on his service, Petruccio said he and the other board members became involved with village government nearly 16 years ago.

“At the time, we received a notification of a large tax increase of almost 37 percent,” Petruccio said. “We started coming to meetings. There was a lot of turmoil in the village at that time.”  

The village faced the threat of  being dissolved when 3,000 residents – himself included – signed a petition calling for the elimination of the village government, he said.  

But, Petuccio said, he later changed his mind.

“As I came to more meetings, I realized that our level of government is the most cost effective and efficient,” he said.

Petruccio helped form the Village Party, which successfully ran two trustee candidates, Lofaro and Richard Coppola Jr. 

“Two years later, two village trustees decided not to run, and that’s when Lawrence Montreuil and Donald Barbieri and I stepped forward,” Petruccio said.

Petruccio said he was honored to “come under the tutelage” of previous village mayors Fred Brown, George Sackowich and Kevin Gormley, all of whom are now deceased.  

“They were village residents who had a love for New Hyde Park. They felt that it had a tremendous upside and was need of a new direction and leadership,” Petruccio said.

At the board meeting, Montreuil thanked Petruccio for his service.

“It’s been a tremendous experience to serve with you, and enjoy the benefit of your leadership,” he said. The mayor has always been very open to everyone providing their points of view, and he’s been a tremendous leader in every sense of the word.”

Village resident Kurt Langjahr also thanked the mayor for his service as well.

“Congratulations for a job well done, as a public official myself, I’ve really observed it for all these years, said Langiahr, who represents New Hyde Park for the Town Village Aircraft Safety and Noise Abatement Committee. “I admire your job and work.” 

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