Valley Stream trustees re-elected

Barbara Eckford, at right, exits the booth while Meryl Trager stands by at the polling place at Village Hall. I

Susan Grieco/Herald

Virginia Clavin-Higgins and John Tufarelli won re-election to the Valley Stream Village Board on Tuesday night.

Andrew Hackmack/Herald

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There were no surprises in the Valley Stream village election, as unopposed trustee candidates John Tufarelli and Virginia Clavin-Higgins won re-election on March 20.

Tufarelli, who was first elected to the village board in 2007, received 753 votes. Clavin-Higgins, appointed to fill a vacancy in October, won her first full term with 746 votes. They both ran on the United Community Party line.

“I’m very happy,” Clavin-Higgins said, adding that she believes the turnout was strong for an uncontested election. “I think it shows that people do pay attention and care about village government.”

Tufarelli said that he was humbled by the opportunity to run unopposed, saying it is a testament to the entire village board led by Mayor Ed Fare. “I really believe the people in the village have faith in us and think we’re on the right track,” he said. “I want to thank the people of Valley Stream for giving us another four years.”

The pair will begin their new four-year terms at the village's reorganization meeting on April 2. The board will remain intact for at least the next three years, when the mayor and other two trustee seats are up.

Village Clerk Bob Barra said there were a handful of write-in votes.