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Mostly Cloudy It is what he loves to do
Cedarhurst village Mayor Andrew Parise runs for a fifth term
From the “CEDMAYOR” license plate on his 2010 Lincoln Town Car to speaking with residents who drop by village hall, Cedarhurst Mayor Andrew Parise said he enjoys the position he was first elected to in 1995.
Running uncontested for his fifth 4-year term, Parise, an octogenarian, who is part of what is called “The Greatest Generation” stays active as he sits in the mayor’s office daily trying to ensure that his municipality remains on an upward trajectory.
“At this stage it is the best thing for me, I love what I do and I’ve been doing it all my life,” Parise said. The village election is on Tuesday and voting is from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at village hall.
Born In Inwood, Parise graduated from Lawrence High School in 1942 and went into the U.S. Army during World War II and served as part of the 87th Infantry Division 312 Combat Engineers from Feb. 1943 to Dec. ‘45. He fought in the Battle of the Bulge and was awarded the Purple Heart.
Parise began his public sector work in 1954 as a legislative aide to the New York State assembly and two years late started a 35-year career working for the Town of Hempstead as the chief executive assistant to seven supervisors.
In 1958, he formed the first purchasing department for any town in New York and served as its first director. Parise also founded the town’s Employees Federal Credit Union. From 1971 to now, he has been involved with Cedarhurst’s government first as a trustee, then deputy mayor and mayor.
“I like people and I like doing things,” Parise said reflecting on why he originally took the town job.
He continues to enjoy people and solving problems as his open-door policy allowed a resident to come in and have what Parise called a “long chat” about what getting some trees in the village watered. “I am happy to help,” he said, “someone looks for something to be done and its important to them.”
Also on Parise’s plate is the business of running this 1-square mile village with 6,174 residents, according to the 2009 Long Island Power Authority survey.
