Editor’s note: The following are bios submitted to Anton Community Newspapers from the candidates participating in the Hempstead Town election to be held on Tuesday, Nov. 5 at local polling locations.
Kate Murray (R), incumbent, supervisor
“Helping people and reducing the tax burden for those who call America’s largest township home have been key priorities for Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray. Tough and accountable, the first woman supervisor in the town’s 369-year history has earned the highest Wall Street credit ratings available, testament to her superlative financial stewardship.
“At the same time as she is preparing a 2014 budget that reduces total town taxes, her third consecutive tax cut budget, Kate Murray has maintained all town programs in full-force and implemented a host of thoughtful initiatives which have helped the environment, stimulated the economy and enhanced the local quality-of-life experience.
“Perhaps Murray’s defining career-moment, however, has been her proactive response to Hurricane Sandy, helping neighbors to rebuild homes, businesses and their lives.
“While other governments are confronting crippling layoffs, budgetary strife and programmatic cuts, Supervisor Kate Murray has produced budgets that are sound and sensible, earning the respect of fiscal watchdogs and the trust of neighbors. In fact, Kate’s administration has just recently been awarded its ninth consecutive “Excellence in Financial Reporting Award” from the non-partisan Government Finance Officers Association. Forthright and transparent budgeting are Murray hallmarks that have distinguished her management policies and earned the town’s government a Wall Street credit rating that is better than that of the full faith and credit of the government of the United States of America.
What’s more, homeowners are grateful that Murray has recognized the need for taxpayer relief, reducing the total town taxes collected by her government. Murray will continue the tax cut agenda this coming year.
Felix Procacci (D), candidate, supervisor
Republican Felix Procacci, 51, of Franklin Square, is running on the Democratic ticket this election season, challenging Republican incumbent, Kate Murray, for the position of supervisor for the Town of Hempstead. Procacci, a computer programmer, is basing his campaign on increasing town government transparency.
Procacci has lived in Franklin Square for 15 years. He is a graduate of the City College School of Engineering, and has worked as an electrical engineer and computer programmer for the past 29 years.
He has been married for 16 years and has two children.
Procacci has attended every Hempstead Town Board meeting since August 2010 (over 60 consecutive meetings). His personal investigation into the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter uncovered the same fiscal mismanagement discovered by the State Comptroller, a year later. He has made numerous FOIL requests learning how town government is spending taxpayer money.
Member of the Citizen Budget Advisory Committee (CBAC) Franklin Square School District for three years. Member Sewanhaka Ad Hoc Committee on Facilities for the purpose of evaluating the necessity of performing school renovations 2012-13. Member Elmont East End and Nostrand Gardens (Uniondale) Civic associations.
Nasrin G. Ahmad (R), unelected incumbent, town clerk
Nasrin G. Ahmad is the unelected incumbent for the Hempstead Town Clerk’s position. She was appointed as the town clerk in September 2013.
Involvement in Community: East Meadow School District PTA: Former Vice President, Clarke Middle School PTA, 1997-99; Co-Founder Human Dignity Committee, East Meadow School District; Former Chair, East Meadow School District
Council on Human Dignity .
Ahmad began working in the town clerk’s office in May 1998. Her primary duties are as Marriage Officer, Passport Officer, Administrative Supervisor, and Processor for Various Town Board Applications.
Ahmad has helped to run cost-effective and efficient operations at the Town Clerk’s office. As Town Clerk, she will promote programs like the lifesaving Child Safety I.D. Program. Ahmad has been committed to helping Sandy victims, supporting the town’s initiative that is replacing storm damaged records (marriage certificates, birth certificates, etc.) at no cost.
Ahmad is married to Naeem Ahmad and has three children.
“I am running for Town Clerk because I am a dedicated public servant who is committed to providing the best municipal services to the public at the lowest possible cost. As a member of Supervisor Kate Murray’s team, I am proud to be part of one of the most efficient and effective government operations anywhere. What’s more, I want to work with Kate Murray as she presents her 2014 budget, which will reduce town taxes for the third consecutive year.”
Jasmine Garcia-Vieux (D) candidate, town clerk
Jasmine Garcia-Vieux is the Democratic and Working Families Party Candidate for Hempstead Town Clerk. She is a managing attorney for the New York offices of Smith & Brink, P.C. and a member of the firm’s Complex Business Litigation
Group where her primary focus is the investigation of Insurance Fraud in New York. Garcia-Vieux is a Levittown resident and a mother of three young boys.
“I am running to be Town Clerk because I am concerned about the direction that The Town of Hempstead is heading. I am angered by the fact that the current administration thinks it is okay to dilute the voting rights of thousands of
Hispanic voters. I am angered by the lack of transparency and accountability when it comes to our government and elected officials. Also, young families, like my own, are fleeing Nassau County because they can no longer afford to live here. I live and work here in the Town of Hempstead and it is here in the Town of Hempstead that I want to continue to raise a family. However, that cannot continue to happen if we allow the current administration to remain in office.
“I am a graduate of St. John’s University where I received a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice. I later obtained a law degree from New York Law School and I am currently admitted to the New York State Bar, United States District
Court for the Eastern District of New York and United States District Court for the District of Connecticut. I am currently the managing attorney for the New York offices of Smith & Brink, P.C., a national law firm, and a member of the firm’s Complex Business Litigation Group where my primary focus is the investigation of Insurance Fraud in the State of New York.
Gary Hudes, incumbent, town council
Hempstead Town Councilman Gary Hudes of Levittown was re-elected to represent the Town of Hempstead’s Sixth Council district in November 2009, where he has served since his election in 2000. He also served as a council member from July 1999 to December 1999.
Hudes began his service to the community as a civic activist, always working on behalf of his community and addressing issues important to local residents. Owner and president of a jewelry business in Bellmore Village, Councilman Hudes has devoted a great deal of his time to help small businesses grow and prosper. He served as president of Nassau County’s largest business organization, the Nassau Council of Chamber of Commerce, which represents the interests of 6,000 small businesses. As president, he instituted a community partnership with Hofstra University that established an education program for small businesses throughout the county. As five-time past president of the Bellmore Chamber of Commerce, Hudes spearheaded a pilot program for downtown revitalization, which garnered three national awards and became the catalyst for downtown revitalization projects throughout the region. As a result of his commitment to small business, Hudes was also selected as the New York State “Small Business Advocate of the Year” by Governor George Pataki.
Long committed to community improvement, Hudes served as the Revitalization Coordinator for the Levittown-Island Trees Turnpike Revitalization Project, a $12 million construction and beautification program of Hempstead Turnpike, involving the joint efforts of the state, county and town more than 10 years ago. That commitment continues today as a strong proponent of beautification, Hudes has served as the Hempstead Turnpike Center Median Beautification
Coordinator. In this capacity he has assisted with the formulation of a committee, in cooperation with the Levittown Chamber of Commerce and with the assistance of state grant funding to change the “street appeal” of the turnpike.
Deeply committed to quality of life issues, Hudes has spear headed numerous pieces of legislation to increase fines imposed upon graffiti vandals, shorten the time it takes to get high grass cut on residential properties and increased options for legal two-family dwellings from mother/daughter to joint sibling occupancy.
He initiated the S.L.O.W (Speed Limit Odometer Warning) Program which helps to reduce the amount of cars speeding down our local streets. He also initiated “Operation Wheelchair” which is a program that collects and distributes gently used wheelchairs to needy seniors and disabled individuals. Also, he introduced the Town of Hempstead Community Presentation Program entitled “The Town of Hempstead and You” which informs community groups about the many services available to the residents of the community from the town. In his efforts to really bring government to the people in their own neighborhoods, Mr. Hudes initiated “GARY On The Go” meetings to give residents a chance to meet one on one in his mobile community office that travels from neighborhood to neighborhood in his councilmanic district.
With his long standing commitment to young people, Hudes has assisted & mentored dozens of young men working on Eagle Scout projects, provided classes, workshops and seminars to hundreds of students on government, business skills and community issues and has worked with students as a youth advisor.
Born in the Bronx, Councilman Hudes is a cum laude graduate of Montclair State University in New Jersey. He and his wife, Sheree, have three children.
Diane Madden, candidate, town council
Diane Madden is the Democratic and Working Families Party Candidate for Hempstead Town Council. An animal welfare activist Madden brings a plethora of knowledge to the campaign and years of experience battling town hall. She is challenging the Republican incumbent Gary Hudes. The district includes Levittown, East Meadow, and parts of Wantagh, Bellmore and Merrick.
Over the past three years, Madden has spent advocating for town residents and the community’s shelter animals.
Madden has gained a great deal of knowledge about how government operates by attending the vast majority of town board meetings during these three years.
“Local government officials appear to be more content as the public grows more complacent. It’s time for all of us to get our eyes off our smart phones, our heads out of reality TV, and start paying attention to what really matters.
“What I am led to tell you is unique because I am not a career politician. I am an advocate, which means I speak on behalf of a voice that would not otherwise be heard. Historically, advocates are the people who put a stop to wrongdoing, and change laws, regulations and policies. Advocates are the individuals who improve the quality of life for us all. I don’t have a political agenda; my agenda is to start repairing a very broken and abused Town government.
“When I visited the Hempstead Animal Shelter over 10 years ago with the intention of adopting a pet, it was clearly evident to me that something was dramatically wrong. As I learned over the next few years, that was surely the case. And at the expense of innocent animals whose owners were deceived into believing their pets were getting top-notch care, and at the expense of taxpayers who were led to believe they were paying for quality care and services.
“In reality, the animal shelter was basically a dumping ground for party patronage: a Republican club with a lot of dead animals inside. Millions of taxpayer dollars were used to line the pockets of political loyalists.
“The work I began with our residents exposed the truth, which paved the way for greater accountability for the spending and operations in our municipal facility. I am asking the voters to allow me the privilege of being your voice as
Town Councilwomen this November. I will work as diligently for my community as I did for our companion animals.
“Since stepping foot into the shelter 10 years ago, I have become educated in government operations; I am now fully prepared and determined to serve the public. We don’t need any more revolving doors or contracts in government; we need a new slate of gatekeepers to secure and find new ways to keep more of your money where it belongs: in your pocket.
“As I continue my life in public service, I intend to devote my time, energy, and talents, to improving the quality of life of Town residents, and to make decisions, which will benefit everyone. If elected Councilwoman, I will always keep in mind the people who allowed me the privilege to serve them. I whole heartedly believe that every bit of my last 10 years’ of experience within the Town of Hempstead has prepared me for the work ahead.”
