The Great Neck Chinese Association and Northshore Asian Civic Association will be hosting a forum with the Great Neck Park District Commissioner candidates on Nov. 30, less than two weeks before the Dec. 12 election.
The event will take place on Thursday, Nov. 30, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Great Neck House and give interested patrons to voice concerns and ask the candidates questions, according to an event flyer.
This year’s park commissioner race is between incumbent and former mayor Daniel Nachmanoff, who is seeking his third term, and Tina Stellato, a Parkwood Tennis Center teacher for 17 years and member of the E.M. Baker Elementary School PTO.
Nathan Fong, a co-president of the Great Neck Chinese Association, said that the forum aims to help constituents learn about the candidates and what they hope to accomplish if elected.
“We believe that it is important for our residents to attend this event in order to understand each candidate’s vision and long term plans for the Park District,” Fong said on Thursday.
In a previous interview, Stellato, a parent of two children in E.M. Baker Elementary School, said she wants to make sure the board of commissioners has the perspective of a woman and a young parent.
Stellato also said that she would, if elected, try to expand programs for children with special needs, stream meetings online so more parents can be involved in park politics and improve the southern part of the district.
Nachmanoff, once the mayor of Russell Gardens and the Nassau County director of intergovernmental affairs, said he has always been passionate about the park district and intends to run on his record.
If re-elected as park commissioner, Nachmanoff said he intends to continue to find ways to raise revenue for the Great Neck Park District, make sure there are programs for everybody and continue a four-year streak of not raising taxes.
The Great Neck Park District’s Board of Commisioners has three elected members: Robert Lincoln, Daniel Nachmanoff, and Frank Cilluffo.
Its responsibilities include overseeing district business, ensuring compliance with regulations, fielding residential concerns transparently, setting policy and approving the annual budget, according to the district’s website.
The park district includes Great Neck, Great Neck Plaza, Kensington, Kings Point, Russell Gardens and Thomaston— or six of the peninsula’s nine villages.
