No Competition in Tuesday's Village Elections

Most villages in the Five Towns will hold elections for trustee positions on their respective village boards Tuesday, including one election for mayor.

All of the candidates are running unopposed.

In Lawrence, the two candidates running unopposed for two trustee positions include Joel Mael, 54, who has served as a trustee for eight years, and relative newcomer to the board, Michael Fragin, 37.

Mael is an investment banker who has lived in the village for 22 years. He is also an executive with the Florida Marlins baseball organization. He said that there are still a number of issues that continue to persist within the Lawrence community.

“I’ve been very effective with positive change in our village relating to a whole myriad of issues,” Mael said. “I’d like to see some of the issues still outstanding to completion.”

Although he has only spent three years on the village board, Fragin said he believes he has the “experience and expertise to make Lawrence a better place to live.” He said he would like to focus on creating more transparency in village government, an improved website, the expansion of parks, and a revamp of village building code.

“We’ve accomplished a lot, but there is much more to accomplish in the coming years,” said Fragin, who explained that his age allows him to view issues from a certain perspective that better represents younger families in the neighborhood. “There is a lot I would like to see get done.”

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at village hall, located at 196 Central Ave.

Hewlett Harbor’s trustee ballot includes 43-year-old Leonard Oppenheimer, who currently serves as the village’s deputy mayor, and Michael Yohai, 59, who has lived in the community for over 50 years.

Oppenheimer said that Hewlett Harbor is among the best places to live on the south shore of Long Island. He said he wants to make sure that the village stays that way.

“It’s important for people in a community to be involved in their community, and I run because I want to make a difference,” Oppenheimer said. “At this point, I have a proven track record of influencing positive change in the village, and that is something I’d like to continue.”

Yohai, an equity trader who has served as a village trustee for eight years, believes in the future of Hewlett Harbor.

“I want to do everything I can to keep it the wonderful place that it is,” Yohai said.

Polls will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at village hall, located at 449 Pepperidge Rd.

In Woodsburgh, the two unopposed candidates for trustee positions are Gary Goffner and Carl Cayne.

In the mayoral election, current village mayor Susan Schlaff, who has served in the position since 1994, is running again unopposed for re-election.

“I’ve been doing the job for a long time and I take it very seriously,” said Schlaff, who added that the village has seen new roads, lighting, and changes in zoning laws while she has served in office. “I’ve done an excellent job and that’s why they should re-elect me.”

Polls will be open from noon to 9 p.m. at Keystone Yacht Club, located at 190 Woodmere Blvd S.

The Hewlett Neck ballot features unopposed incumbents in trustees Brett Cooper and Michael Levine.

Polls will be open from noon to 9 p.m. at Keystone Yacht Club, located at 190 Woodmere Blvd S.

The trustee elections for the Village of Hewlett Bay Park include incumbents Alex Salomon and Jay Levy, who are running unopposed.

Polls will be open from noon to 9 p.m. at village hall, located at 30 Piermont Ave.

Running unopposed for the trustee positions on the Village of Atlantic Beach board is Andrew J. Rubin and Danae Muddiman.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in village hall at 65 The Plaza in Atlantic Beach.

Editor’s note: Many of the trustees running for office were reached for comment via their respective village halls but did not respond by press time.