Phillips hosts first ‘community conversation,’ more to come

Joe Nikic

Mayor Elaine Phillips of the Village of Flower Hill is taking steps to get to know the Seventh Senate District on a more personal level as she campaigns to succeed outgoing state Sen. Jack Martins.

Phillips, the Republican candidate,  said she is holding “community conversations” with civic leaders and elected officials to identify the needs of local municipalities.

“From finding ways to lower taxes and grow jobs, to protecting our environment and strengthening our already top-notch schools, these ‘community conversations’ will provide a way for me to learn more about the concerns of residents in local communities all across the Seventh Senate District, solve problems and identify opportunities to smartly grow jobs and our local economy,” she said.

Phillips is set to face off against Democrat Adam Haber, a former commodities trader-turned-restaurateur and Roslyn school board trustee, who previously ran for the same seat and lost in 2014 to Martins.

She held her first community conversation with officials from the Village of Westbury.

The meeting, which was co-hosted by the village  mayor, Peter Cavallaro, included village officials, school board members and community residents.

Phillips, who is the second vice president of the Nassau County Village Officials Association, said that it was important to find out the needs of each municipality within the Seventh Senate District as each has different issues.

“Strong local communities are what make Long Island a great place to live, work and raise a family and, as a village mayor and an officer of the Nassau County Village Officials Association, I know that every community is unique, with needs and concerns that are vitally important to the people who live there,” she said.

Chris McKenna, a Phillips campaign spokesman, said the campaign was in the process of scheduling  community conversations with other local municipalities in the district, but did not have anything set up officially.

Phillips said that as a senator, it would be her responsibility to know the needs and issues her constituents are facing.

“I said I want to be a state senator who listens to people in this community so I can best represent your point of view and speak out for your concerns,” she said. “These ‘conversations’ are an excellent way for me to learn more about the local needs and concerns and be the voice of every local community in this Senate district.”

There are 34 villages within the Seventh Senate District, which is the most of any Senate district in the state, according to Phillips’ campaign.

Reach reporter Joe Nikic by e-mail at jnikic@theislandnow.com, by phone at 516.307.1045 x203. Also follow us on Twitter @joenikic and Facebook at facebook.com/theislandnow.

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