New Hyde Park Mayor Robert Lofaro will step down from the village Board of Trustees at the end of his term this April, when current Deputy Mayor Lawrence Montreuil will likely replace him.
Montreuil was the sole candidate to file a petition by Tuesday’s deadline to run for mayor in the March 21 village election.
He is running alongside current Trustee Donald Barbieri, who is running unopposed for a fifth four-year term, and Rich Pallisco, a New Hyde Park resident who serves on village committees, who is running unopposed to replace Montreuil as trustee.
Lofaro has served on the board for 18 years, including four as mayor, 12 as deputy mayor and two as trustee. He was first elected in 1999.
“We’ll look forward to taking advantage of his knowledge and talents and undying dedication to the Village of New Hyde Park,” Montreuil said.
Lofaro was traveling on Wednesday and could not be reached for comment.
Montreuil and Barbieri, both lifelong village residents, were first elected as trustees in 2001. Montreuil has served as deputy mayor since Lofaro replaced Richard Petruccio as mayor in 2013.
Montreuil said he hopes to continue the board’s efforts to “preserve and improve the suburban character of life” in the village by rebuilding roads, revamping the Jericho Turnpike business district and addressing the Long Island Rail Road’s proposed third track project.
“I think continuity is very important at this point, especially with some of the big projects that we have that we’ll be continuing to deal with,” Montreuil said.
Pallisco is the village’s parks and recreation commissioner, a volunteer position in which he oversees the village’s summer recreation program. He is also the chairman of the village Beautification Committee and a member of the Long Island Rail Road Task Force.
Pallisco has served in various community service groups, including New Hyde Park Boy Scout Troop No. 298.
He could not be reached for comment on Wednesday.
Barbieri touted his efforts to secure $2 million in grants for an initiative to make Jericho Turnpike more walkable.
Barbieri has multiple sclerosis and uses a wheelchair, and one of his first accomplishments as trustee was to start installing wheelchair ramps along the thoroughfare, he said.
“I am a lifer in New Hyde Park, and it might sound hokey, but I kind of enjoy the job,” Barbieri said. “I enjoy trying to work on projects that I think will improve the life of the people who live in the community.”
Village residents can cast ballots from noon to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, March 21, at Marcus Christ Hall, located at 1420 Jericho Turnpike.
In the Village of Floral Park, Trustee Dominick Longobardi is running unopposed to succeed outgoing Mayor Thomas Tweedy.
Frank Chiara, a village resident, is running unopposed to replace Longobardi as a trustee, and incumbent Trustee Lynn Pombonyo is unopposed in her bid for a second full two-year term.
All three belong to the village’s Citizens Party.
Polls will be open from noon to 9 p.m. on March 21 at three polling places.
Voters in village election district 1 will cast ballots at the Reliance Firehouse on Holland Avenue. Voters in districts 2 and 3 will vote at the village Recreation Center at 124 Stewart Street. Residents of election district 4 will vote at the Atlantic Avenue Firehouse.
