Hudes' Induction Speech

Editor's Note: This is a transcript of remarks made by Hempstead Town Councilman Gary Hudes during an induction ceremony at Town Hall on Jan. 5.  Hudes, a Republican who has served on the town board since 1999, represents portions of North Bellmore.)

This marks my 10th anniversary in government.  For those of you that are unfamiliar with the anniversary chart of gifts, ten years is the diamond anniversary gift.  Before anyone asks, let me begin by telling you that no, I did not bring all of the ladies a free diamond from my business, to celebrate my 10th anniversary.

Ten years ago, I stood before you and promised to bring my extensive community and business experience to the Town of Hempstead.  At that time, we promised to bring personal service, return phone calls, get answers for residents and give them the type of customer service that they didn't expect from government. 

Well, we've done that… and much, much more.  No job was too small.  When residents needed something as simple as a new recycling bin, I visited their homes in the early morning and have personally delivered more than 10,000 bins to homeowners, to encourage recycling.  When our residents, our customers, called about special problems in the community, I visited their homes in the evening, and yes on Saturdays and Sundays (because that's when they would be home) to address their personal community concerns. 

I brought my "Gary on the Go" traveling office on wheels to every neighborhood so that residents could meet one on one with me, in a relaxed, living room atmosphere, to discuss anything on their minds.  When parents with special needs children sought help with the physical barriers in their own homes, that seemed insurmountable, I partnered with local benevolent businesses and community groups like Allure Home Improvements, Walsh Bros. and Rebuilding Together Long Island to make a life changing difference in the lives of these children and their families.

I have been proud to author legislation that helps families purchase homes together and stay in our community where they belong.  I have led a crusade against graffiti and authored legislation that severely punishes graffiti vandals.

I have spent a great deal of time in our local schools drawing on my business experience and teaching classes to students about job interview skills and most importantly, setting and achieving goals in their lives.

I have delivered what I have promised, and our residents… our customers, responded with their support on Election Day with a vote of confidence of 74 percent.

I have had the pleasure to have great partners in government, to play on a great team with an incredible captain, no, better than that, an incredible friend like Kate Murray.  I do, what I think is right, and Kate has always been there by my side, to back me up 110 percent.  I couldn't have accomplished my work, without her support and her leadership, as Kate is the Captain of our team. 

Of course, every captain needs a great team and I play with great team members like Tony, Angie, Dorothy, Jim, Ed, Mark and yes… Donald X Clavin Jr. (Don makes me call him by his full name) and let's not forget all of our great town commissioners from General Services, Building, Highway, Engineering, Parks, Sanitation, Economic Development and so may more that are incredibly responsive… and all of our Department heads like Mike Deery that work so hard for us every day because they all know, I certainly do call them every day.

I am proud to have the greatest, most vigilant and caring staff of professionals in the Town of Hempstead (led by my chief of staff, Robin Karp, who has been my right hand for 21 years.).  They follow my direction and give their heart and sole to the residents of our township, every single day.  As much as we've done, we'll do even more as we move forward in the next four years.

I also want to thank my staff at Gennaro Jewelers that have picked up the slack for the past 10 years, as it seems that I spend more time at my business addressing town issues, than jewelry issues… at times.

I also want to wish County Executive Ed Mangano the very best as he begins his leadership of Nassau County.  When the county executive was a county legislator, I had the pleasure of working with him as we shared a portion of my district and now, I look forward to working with him, throughout my entire district.

In closing, I would like to share a short story…

Charles Plumb was a navy pilot.  On his seventy-sixth combat mission, he was shot down and parachuted safely to the ground, but into enemy territory. He was captured and spent six years in prison.  He survived and now lectures on the lessons he learned from his experiences.

One day, a man approached Charles Plumb in a restaurant, and said, "Are you Charles Plumb the navy pilot?"

"Yes, how did you know?" asked Plumb.

"I packed your parachute," the man replied.

Plumb was amazed - and very, very grateful: "If the parachute you packed, hadn't worked, I wouldn't be here today…"

Plumb refers to this in his lectures: his realization that the anonymous sailors who packed the parachutes on Navy ships held the pilots' lives in their hands, and yet the pilots at that time, never gave these sailors a second thought; never even said hello, let alone said… thanks.

During his lectures, Charles Plumb asks his audiences, "Who packs your parachutes?… Who helps you through your life?… Physically… mentally…emotionally… spiritually?… Ladies and Gentlemen, think about who helps you; take a moment today as I have, recognize them and say… Thank you!

After 10 years of serving the public, and with another four ahead in my next term, I now want to thank the most important people in my life, that pack my parachute every day.

My partner in life, my greatest advisor, she is a woman who has understood my commitment to the community although it has taken a tremendous amount of time away from our personal lives, my best friend… my beautiful wife of 31 years, Sheree… and I don't want to forget my other parachute packers, my exceptional children of whom I am so, so proud… Jason, Jenna, Jessica, and of course, Lynn.

And last, but certainly not least, thank you to the residents of the Town of Hempstead for allowing me to do a job that I absolutely love… helping people, solving problems and really making a positive difference in peoples' lives.