Community Corner
Quinn: Why I Am Challenging John Watras For Mayor
Sitting trustee says vocal minority that insists on maintaining a decaying structure has essentially side-tracked progress within the village.
A shock and awe moment at Tuesday night's resident electors' meeting in the West left many caught with their mouths open.
Unbeknownst to many, including WPOA president Tom Whalen who told Patch he had no prior knowledge of the challenge prior to Tuesday's meeting, sitting trustee Laurence Quinn challenged the West Nominating Committee's unanimous selection of John Watras for mayor.
The nine-member West Nominating Committee accepted Watras’s resignation from his current position as trustee and his request to be considered for the office of mayor, a two-year term beginning in April 2013. The committee also selected Robert Bolebruch for the remaining one-year of the village trustee seat vacated by Watras.
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Quinn, who's two-year trustee term expires in April, however, told Patch Wednesday that he's challenging the "Old Guard candidate for mayor" for many reasons, including the "endless delays caused by the influence of a vocal minority that insists on maintaining a decaying structure for which no plan for full use presently exists have essentially side-tracked progress within the village."
"Responsible government requires open discussion, respectful argumentation, and a commitment to progress. I wish the Village to move forward on many fronts—more environmentally responsible initiatives, fiscal prudence when dealing with labor contracts, and improved social and recreational services," he stated in an email.
Quinn continued, adding, "The Village of Garden City needs a mayor who will act to help the entire village. I do not believe we will see any progress on use of St. Paul’s if we allow business as usual. Twenty years have passed. You will see real progress in the next two years if I am elected.
"There are many vital issues facing the Village today. The development of the Coliseum property as a biotechnology center looks promising but its potential impacts on traffic, local commercial interests and environmental quality are real concerns. The LIRR’s plans for increased freight along the Main Line are a real concern. Air traffic, noise and pollution issues are finally getting the media attention they deserve. Zoning, code enforcement and housing issues require closer attention. Property values are tied to educational and municipal services. We need state-of-the-art recreational, social and senior citizen services if we are to compete with other up-scale communities.
"Others look at our past to 'preserve equity.' Trustee Larry Quinn wants to invest for the future and 'build equity.' I thank my opponent for recognizing I am 'really on the outside looking in.' A fresh perspective is what the Village of Garden City needs."
A run-off election will now take place in the West on Jan. 29 (time and place to be announced.) Run-off elections are already scheduled for the Estates and East.
The Nominating Committee for village and school board was chaired by WPOA director Maureen Traxler, and its members included Bill Allen, Ralph Aquino, Germaine Greco, Maureen Lyons, Mike Ryder, Bill Sollins, Richard Vallely and Gloria Weinrich.
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