Five Towns village election endorsements

Edelman and Seidemann for trustee in Lawrence

Village of Lawrence residents have three candidates to choose from for two board seats on Tuesday: Incumbent Michael Fragin and challengers Alex Edelman and David Seidemann, who are running together under the Unity Party banner.

Fragin, who is seeking a third two-year term, has accumulated enough experience and knowledge to be an effective village leader, but has not demonstrated leadership. Instead of focusing on bringing one of his ideas — such as updating the village website — to fruition by researching companies or individuals who could do the job and presenting that information to the board, he blames others for the fact that the work isn’t getting done.

Fragin has a solid grasp of village issues — as a two-term trustee should — but his input at board meetings dredges up more negatives than positives.

Both Edelman and Seidemann are enthusiastic and motivated, and have skills that would be an asset to village government.

Being the owner of businesses in the health care, transportation and real estate industries gives Edelman a wealth of knowledge that could be applied to governing the village. If elected, he has said, his immediate priority would be to work on getting the streetlights in the Harborview section repaired. They have been inoperable since Hurricane Sandy struck.

Seidemann is a matrimonial attorney and a professor at Touro College in Brooklyn, where he teaches business law. His legal background would also be a benefit to the village. Should he be elected, Seidemann wants to find ways to mitigate the recurring flooding in the village, increase oversight of the Lawrence Yacht & Country Club and improve relations between residents and village trustees.

Because of their combined experience and their sincere approach to solving problems, we endorse Edelman and Seidemann.

Vote for Israel, Cayne and Goffner in Woodsburgh

Deputy Mayor Ed Mukamal and Trustee Lee Israel are both qualified to take the reins of leadership from outgoing Woodsburgh mayor Susan Schlaff.