ELECTION 2018

A 70-year history of progress in Sea Cliff

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For over 70 years, the Civic Progress Committee has operated with one goal: to vet potential leaders to serve the village. Though the committee has existed for quite some time, many may be unfamiliar with its origins. Chairman Phil Como, shed some light on those beginnings.

“The committee was formed in Sea Cliff in 1947 by a group of World War II veterans,” Como said. “They created Civic Progress to bring the village into a modern era with focused leadership.” Members are responsible for vetting strong candidates to sit on the village’s various boards and committees.

“We pick people that, as trustees, we believe would continue the excellent policies already promulgated by the board,” Como added.

This year, the committee nominated Deputy Mayor Kevin McGilloway and newcomer Henriette Rohl for the two open trustee seats, as well as Charles Parisi for village justice, who is running unopposed.

“Sea Cliff is really in a rebirth, and there are lots of new people moving in,” McGilloway said. “People like Henriette and myself who have some experience in the government really are needed to provide a steady hand and a voice of reason.”

McGilloway has served as Deputy Mayor for the last two years. He previously served on the Zoning Board for eight years, and as a trustee for four. Rohl is a member of the Traffic and Safety Committee and the Environmental Conservation Commission. This is the first time she is running for trustee.

“I felt this was a natural next step to be able to get more involved and represent the good of the village,” she said. “As a commercial banker for 25 years, I was constantly challenged with working with different people with different objectives, and having to come to the center with mutual, beneficial discussions. This isn't in anyway different.”

McGilloway said he and Rohl would work together to keep a sense of continuity in Sea Cliff. “[Concerns about] the environment, overdevelopment, and the opioid epidemic are all things that we have been working on in the past,” he said. “The next few years would allow us to not only help, but to come to closure on some of the things we've started.”

If elected, Rohl said her priorities would be environmental preservation and curating Sea Cliff’s youth. “I’d work with the ECC to make sure that Hempstead Harbor continues to get cleaner and more viable, and not compromise our village,” she said. “Another big focus for me is the youth of our village. I feel like there could be a lot more things for the younger generations to do, whether it is working with the library or the beach. I’ve already talked with organizations and individuals who are very much in support of that.”

Last year Deborah McDermott became the first-ever Open Government candidate to be elected as village trustee. Both McGilloway and Rohl said they’d be willing to work with either Open Government candidate in the event that the vote is split; however, they stressed the importance of “Voting for Sea Cliff,” which has become the committee’s campaign slogan this year.

“Pick the two best candidates based upon their experience, their proven track records, their work ethic and their ability to get things done,” McGilloway said. “I believe Henriette and I have demonstrated that. If people do that, not only does Sea Cliff win, but everybody wins.”