From the President's Desk

From the May 2007 Issue.

Written by James Altadonna

I am honored to be taking on the role of your president for the upcoming year. I hope I can serve this Association as well as it serves our wonderful county and its 64 beloved villages.

I am very supportive of your vote of confidence. As I begin my fourth term as Mayor of the Village of Massapequa Park and take on this new role as NCVOA President, I look forward to continuing to serve the residents of my community and to work side-by-side with my fellow mayors and trustees across Nassau County.

The first thing I would like to acknowledge the leadership of outgoing President Jack Williams. I am personally grateful to him for his guidance and dedication. And we all recognize and respect the great strides taken under his leadership. We owe him our thanks.

It also behooves our Association to remain vigilant with state senators and assembly representatives to ensure relief from the Wicks Law and other bills that infringe on the sovereignty of our villages. The key there is our relationship with these elected public officials. Which brings me to the first of two main areas I would like to focus on during the next 12 months. From our town supervisors to the county executives and legislators up in Albany, it is our duty to actively seek beneficial relationships with our government colleagues.

Our ability as an Association, and as individual mayors, to succeed at the county and state levels will ensure the protection of our Home Rule authority. This is my second are of focus: the preservation of Home Rule, something that is both a responsibility and a privilege.

I will encourage us to work across political parties to nurture a working dialogue determined to protect our Home Rule, and to hold accountable any public official looking to attack our rights to govern.

Your support will be appreciated as we all work together this year in the best interests of our villages and all its residents.

Thank you again for giving me this great honor to lead the Association for the next year.

Jim Altadonna
NCVOA President
Email James