After teaching high school English for 35 years, Nora Haagenson ran and won a trustee seat in the Village of Baxter Estates in 2011.
In 2015, Haagenson, a village resident since 1975, was elected mayor, and is now running unopposed for re-election in March.
Trustees Chris Ficalora and Charles Comer are also running for re-election for two-year terms.
In her time as mayor, Haagenson said she has secured over $250,000 in state grant money for capital improvements, and was awarded $13,500 from the 2017 Justice Court Program.
Haagenson said lobbying state Legislators for increased aid to municipalities, as well as participating in the Port Washington Water District’s conservation program, are some of her biggest accomplishments.
Teaching in the North Shore School District, Haagenson was a union representative and was named a Teacher of Excellence by the state’s English Council.
Charles Comer was elected to the Board of Trustees in 2001 and was named deputy mayor in 2007.
Comer, a Baxter Estates resident since 1984, works in the wealth management consulting field.
Comer is one of the village’s Manhasset Bay Committee members and has served as the village’s environmental officer, emergency management officer, snow commissioner and is a Board of Zoning Appeals member.
Known as the village’s “handyman,” Comer administers the state’s Storm Water Management Program in the village and conceived the village’s rezoning plan to prevent “McMansionization.”
Chris Ficalora, who has lived in the village since 2001, has served on the Board of Trustees since 2015, and serves as the village’s budget officer.
Ficalora currently works for Travelliance and has worked in other senior-level positions for other global companies.
As the village’s budget officer, Ficalora said, he has reduced village expenses by eliminating outsourced vendors for internal vendors, and vetted bond companies and secured low interest rates for the village’s Bird House bond.
Ficalora is also the village’s communications liaison to the residents.
The candidates outlined goals in a flyer sent out to residents, highlighting “Fight those who want to dissolve the village: avoid governance solely by Town of North Hempstead; Continue the reduction and consolidation of village operating expenses; Strengthen capital fund for road improvements and repairs; and continue to pursue state grant money for roads and capital projects for 2018-2019.
The flyer also mentioned expanding visibility and the scope of the village historian, replacing village retaining walls and organizing village social events for residents.
The election is on March 21 from noon to 9 p.m. at village hall at 315 Main St. in Port Washington.
