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Partly Cloudy Bill Hendrick to be next Lynbrook mayor
Will focus on jobs, economy, taxes
The Lynbrook village board announced on Monday that one of their own, Deputy Mayor Bill Hendrick will be appointed to the mayor’s seat next month. Hendrick, who would have been reaching his 20th year as a village trustee in March, will replace Mayor Brian Curran, who will be heading to the state assembly effective Jan. 1.
“I am looking forward to becoming village mayor,” Hendrick told the Herald today. “I am very happy. I have been there for while.”
Trustee Michael Hawxhurst said that the board has the option to appoint Hendrick, which can only happen after Curran steps down from the seat. Curran said that he will officially step down at the board’s upcoming Dec. 20 meeting, which his last day will be December 31. Hendrick is to assume his duties immediately after that.
“I have to step down before the four remaining people on the board can appoint him,” Curran said. “The board is pretty much in agreement that Hendrick is the next mayor, but it is not official yet. Based on yesterday, and the guys on the board, it seems they will appoint Bill.”
Curran noted that Trustee Hilary Becker addressed the board at last night’s meeting about appointing Hendrick, which many of the trustees were thrilled. “I think it is a good idea,” Hawxhurst said. “He has been there 20 years. He has the experience and qualifications to take over.”
Following his appointment, Hendrick said the first thing he will do in the mayor’s seat is find someone to fill his vacant seat on the board. Hendrick’s seat as deputy mayor will be up in three months, with the village election in March 2011. And whoever fills his seat would not automatically become deputy mayor, Hendrick said.
In addition, Hendrick said that he will focus on jobs, the economy and taxes as the village mayor. “We are in tough times now,” he said. “I will work on the budget and I will do my best to keep things going.”
And Curran is happy about Hendrick stepping into his shoes. “We are very excited to have deputy mayor Hendrick become mayor,” he said. “He has 20 years experience, which is tremendous.”
