My name is Rushi Vaidya and I am running for the office of village trustee in East Williston on March 19.

While I have had the pleasure of meeting some of you while out campaigning, I am writing to introduce myself to everyone I haven’t yet had the opportunity to meet.

In 2022, my wife and I moved to East Williston with our 2-year-old son. Last year, I joined the East Williston Fire Department as a volunteer in order to give back to our community.

Giving back and being an active member of the community is important to our family. As someone who grew up in Queens, I got excited when listening to my wife, Elise, talk about her childhood here in East Williston, and what it was like to be a part of a small, tight-knit community. My father-in-law, Robert Campagna, who was the building inspector in the village for over 20 years, shared wonderful stories about the history of East Williston and his experiences raising his family here.

When we had the opportunity to buy our house, Elise and I were excited to create our own memories here and become involved in the community in our own way. Living here for the past few years and getting involved as a volunteer with the Fire Department, I have felt the sense of community and connection that I had heard so much about. When the opportunity arose for me to run for trustee, I saw it as a chance to not only contribute and give back to a community that has welcomed us, but to also help enhance the community spirit and unique charm that East Williston can offer for future generations.

I am a project manager advising a Fortune 500 company in the construction of their new East Coast headquarters in Manhattan, and I have advanced degrees in mechanical engineering and business. I believe that my experience and education will enable me to help the village achieve successful results for planned projects and navigate unforeseen challenges. I have over 10 years of experience overseeing multimillion-dollar projects, leading initiatives beyond the scope of my job title, and understanding the needs of stakeholders at all levels while communicating effectively to accomplish common goals.

My primary hope in running for trustee is to find ways to make it easier for village residents to be involved in their local government. As working parents of a toddler, Elise and I know firsthand how difficult it can be to stay involved, participate at board meetings, and keep on top of everything happening locally. If I am elected as a village trustee, I will look for more ways to make our local government more approachable for all residents, young and old, new and deep-rooted, so that everyone can feel connected and kept informed of decisions that may affect their lives and wallets, and feel motivated to get involved.

Everyone is busy, but that should not stop people from being able to take part in important decisions. I will make sure I am available to all residents, and receptive to the many viewpoints that make up our small village.

East Williston has an exciting mix of residents who have lived here their entire lives, and new residents who have moved here for the great schools and amazing traditions that have made our village so unique. This mix of institutional and historic perspectives, mixed with new voices and ideas, can help the village keep traditions alive while embracing the changing lives and needs of our residents. I strive to be a conduit for all voices if elected to the Board of Trustees.

I would appreciate your vote for Village Trustee on Tuesday, March 19, but most of all, I hope to see each and every one of you at the polls taking part in our local government and making your voices heard.

Voting will take place at the Village Hall (2 Prospect Street) between 12 p.m. and 9 p.m. on March 19. Please reach out to me directly if you want to know more and connect. My email address is [email protected].

Rushi Vaidya

Candidate for East Williston Village Trustee