Hempstead Town Council Candidates: Meet Thomas Tweedy

Voters in the Town of Hempstead will head to the polls Nov. 5 to cast their ballots for the Town Council.

In Council District 2 — which includes Bellerose Terrace, Floral Park, Garden City, Garden City South, the incorporated area of New Hyde Park, Salisbury, South Floral Park, Stewart Manor, and portions of Bellerose, East Meadow, Elmont, Franklin Square, Hempstead, Uniondale and West Hempstead — voters will select from two candidates: incumbent Republican Thomas Muscarella and Democratic challenger Thomas Tweedy.

Patch reached out to both candidates to hear where they stand on important issues affecting the community.

Here are the responses for those who participated. The answers have been lightly edited for clarity.

Thomas Tweedy

• Age (as of Sept. 1, 2019): 63
• Town of Residence: Floral Park
• Position Sought: District 2 Councilman
• Party Affiliation: Democrat
• Family: Married 39 years; two adult children
• Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? MaryAnn Tweedy: Director of the Massapequa Public Library
• Education: Boston College 1978 BA
• Occupation: Project Manager: Construction Management/ Design/Build
• Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office: Village of Floral Park Mayor 2011-2017; VFP Trustee 2001-1011
• Campaign Website: tomtweedy2019.org

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Tough to get one as so many exist; if I had to prioritize two local concerns: quality of Town of Hempstead parks in Elmont, which affects their quality of life as Elmont has not received its fair share; Building Department issues — compliance, inspection follow up, enforcement throughout district, especially in Bellerose Terrace and Garden City South

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

Experience; Independence; Leadership; Innovator; Consensus builder; Communicator; Demonstrated ability to get the job done.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)?

My opponent was appointed to replace disgraced tax cheat Ed Ambrosino and was anointed when he was already a candidate for the Town of Hempstead, so opponent has little track record in Town of Hempstead, or anywhere for that matter. Never gave testimony or submitted letter on Third Track in 2005; or 2015. No casino statements or letters, never commented or wrote a letter regarding St. Paul's in Garden City or any other matter in the Village of Garden City, EVER! Has not vote in local school or village elections in 10 years, even after being appointed interim office holder. His limited voting record in the Town of Hempstead has always been along party lines — even against good government streamlining, modernizing or planning initiatives, voted against programs that would provide guaranteed significant saving for taxpayers, voted against audit of Building Deptartment. These few examples demonstrates his inability to to think on his own. We don't need four more years of a Hemsptead GOP rubber stamp.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform:

Waste, transparency, nepotism, favoritism and cronyism, which costs taxpayers millions of their tax dollars and leads ultimately to the corruption and arrests we see in among Town of Hempstead and Nassau County public servants.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

16 years of municipal budgets. As mayor: created and implemented five-year road program; designed and built $6.75 million pool complex on time and on budget; designed and built three parks working private/ public partnerships; negotiated sale of village property, allowing the construction of eight new homes replacing a nonconforming oil company, immediately increasing the value of existing homes and after CO increasing Village of Floral Park assessment and tax base; designed and built a lasting 9-11 memorial ; rebuilt after Sandy and Irene; refinanced debt and fund balance, thereby improving the village bond rating to Aa2, best for a village our size; defeated two casino initiatives; developed ongoing capital plans for equipment replacement are some of the initiatives and programs which demonstrate my qualifications and ability to do this job well.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

Be a man for others.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I would hope voters look at my record and vote with confidence that I will always work in their best interest. I have a proven record of achievement and clearly defined public positions. I use fairness as my guide. Public service is a privilege and it would be my honor and joy to represent the constituents of the Town of Hempstead Second Councilmatic District.