Mindy Germain will run unopposed for re-election as a Port Washington Water District commissioner Dec. 13.
A three-member board of commissioners, each of whom serves a three-year term, governs the district. Their terms are staggered so that a seat becomes available for election each year. The election will be held on Dec. 13 at the Polish American Citizens Association at 5 Pulaski Place between 12 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Germain was elected in 2012. She said her proudest achievements include ensuring that drinking water was available throughout Hurricane Sandy, assisting in the acquisition of $6 million for Nassau County drinking water protection and spearheading the Do It For Port Water Conservation education and outreach campaign.
“We’ve made a lot of transformative changes,” she said. “And I want to keep my record going of sustainability, transparency and innovation.”
Germain began her professional career at DDB, an Omnicom agency, where she led large advertising and marketing tourism campaigns. She then worked for an environmental and sustainability non-profit before founding Eco-Leap, a group that works with groups to translate scientific knowledge into effective environmental campaigns.
Her efforts have earned her an EPA Environmental Quality Award and a New York State Women of Distinction award.
The Port Washington Water District seeks to protect public health and safety by ensuring an uninterrupted supply of high-quality water and keeping adequate storage reserves for all purposes, including fire protection. The district has a tentative budget of $7.6 million for 2023, an increase of almost $600,000 from 2022.
“I feel like we’ve created something that water districts across the island are now looking to Port Washington as like the best practice,” said Germain. “Which makes me really proud.”
If re-elected, she said her goals would include completing the district’s five-year capital improvement plan to address emerging contaminants, which began in 2020. She also wants to continue the cultural shift in Port Washington toward a more water-conscious community, which she says will take time and effort.
“As a district, we’re really being careful not to scold people, but rather to coach them. That’s the role that I want to play,” she said. “As we move forward, I want to continue to coach up our community so that we can all conserve and do our best to preserve this special resource.”
The Port Washington Water District provides service to Port Washington, Port Washington North, Manorhaven, Flower Hill, Baxter Estates and Plandome Manor.
