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Fare, Grasso, Thomas win re-election

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Mayor Ed Fare and Trustees Vincent Grasso and Dermond Thomas of the United Community Party won their bids for re-election handily on Wednesday, beating the challenging Neighborhood Party ticket by a nearly two-thirds margin.

Fare received 1,979 votes to opponent Martin Zirpolo’s 745, or 73 percent of ballots cast. Grasso received 2,032 votes and Thomas received 2,003, while challengers Ingrid Izaguirre and Johanna David-Young received 664 and 666 votes, respectively.

Village Justice Robert Bogle ran unopposed on Fare’s United Community Party ticket. He received 2,308 votes.

“The opposition supporters tried to make this a partisan election,” Fare said to supporters gathered at the American Legion building in Valley Stream. “We know better. We are here because we have a plan and that plan includes loving our community, not bashing it…Whether Democrat, Republican, old or young, rich or poor, no matter your race or religious beliefs, the United Community Party believes in you. We believe in the residents of Valley Stream, and our only goal has always been the improvement, advancement and betterment of our community.”

Fare thanked his party’s supporters, campaign volunteers and the candidates’ families, who he said weathered a contentious election.

Grasso said many residents he met while campaigning seemed more aware of the party’s accomplishments during the last four years than the fact that there was an election approaching. “What really won the campaign was the last four years of work,” he said.

Thomas thanked his supporters and family, and the campaign volunteers who he said stuck with their task through cold weather and a particularly tempestuous local election. “Some of these things are so personal, and so offensive to me,” he said. “I was actually kind of affected by that.”

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