Williston Park Fire Chief Richard Sais and former Chief Anthony Gagliardi are looking to expand their reach in the village by running for spots on the village board.
Gagliardi is facing Mayor Paul Ehrbar, who is seeking re-election for this third four-year term, in next Tuesday’s election.
Sais is part of a three-way race for two village trustee spots.
He faces Trustee Kevin Rynne and Bill O’Brien.
Ehrbar, Rynne and O’Brien are running under the Integrity Party.
Sais is running with the Citizens Party, and Gagliardi with the Taxpayer Party.
Though Gagliardi and Sais have both served as fire chief, Gagliardi said if elected he will make sure all organizations and committees will get fair treatment.
Gagliardi said he think it’s time for a change in the village, adding that he has nothing personal against Ehrbar.
Before Ehrbar’s eight years as mayor he served the village in other capacities. He was elected to the Herricks Board of Education, serving as both vice president and president, for a total of eight years.
He currently serves as Herricks Community Fund co-president, where he oversees the Youth Council, Alzheimer’s Day Program and Community Players, a position he has held since 2007.
Gagliardi said he is looking to improve road repair and tree trimming throughout the village.
He said he is not looking to remove all the trees, but said the tree trimming program should be improved to remove potentially hazardous hanging branches.
Gagliardi also said the village is in desperate need of road repair.
“I know that they claim that they’ve done a lot over the years, but all residents have to do is look out their doors and realize that only certain areas were taken care of,” Gagliardi said. “A lot of areas still need major road work.”
In a statement, Ehrbar said road repaving has been a priority for the board and the board will continue reviewing the next phase of the road repaving process during the current budget process.
Gagliardi also said he is looking to have a stronger police presence in the village, and wants to reassess the new single stream recycling system.
Sais said his experience as chief, with a two-year term that ends in April, has made him comfortable with and knowledgeable of budget balancing and village politics.
(Photo courtesy of Rich Sais)
“I’m running because I think I’m the best person around,” Sais said, adding that he knows the game and the players.
As chief, Sais attends almost all village meetings and workshops.
Sais said everyone running gets along, and he has nothing bad to say about the current board members or his other opponent, O’Brien.
O’Brien, who works at NBC in the Global Response and Intelligence Division, is new to village politics – but he has been an active member of the village community.
He coached his daughter in volleyball and his sons in basketball at Saint Aidan’s School.
He has also coached both baseball and softball for the Williston Park Little League over the past 10 years, and has been the vice president of Williston Park Little League for the last five.
“I thought the natural transition would be to move into government and see if I can help the town by being a trustee,” O’Brien previously told Blank Slate Media.
(Photo courtesy of Bill O’Brien)
As someone who hasn’t been involved in politics for too long, O’Brien said he can bring a fresh point of view to the board.
Trustee Teresa Thomann’s term is ending this year, and she is not seeking re-election.
Thomann is at the end of her eighth consecutive year as a village board member, after previously serving a four-year term in the 1990s.
She previously told Blank Slate Media that she hopes she can now serve residents as a member of the Williston Park Civic Association.
Efforts to reach Rynne were unavailing.
(File photo)
Village Justice Kevin Kiley is also running unopposed for re-election.
The village elections will be held next Tuesday at Village Hall from noon to 9 p.m.
