Hempstead Town Board Appoints New Councilman

On Friday, the Hempstead Town Board appointed Thomas Muscarella to be the newest councilman, representing the Second District. The seat was vacated after former Councilman Edward Ambrosino stepped down after being convicted of federal tax evasion charges.

Ambrosino pleaded guilty early this month to federal tax evasion charges. Because of that, he can no longer serve on the Hempstead Town Board. Members on the board proposed Muscarella for the seat. Ambrosino had already declared he wasn't going to run for reelection, and Muscarella was already running for his seat.

“I am eager to serve the residents of the 2nd Council District on the Hempstead Town Board,” said in a release Muscarella. “I supported the Town Councilmembers who worked together to provide a 4% tax cut to residents in their 2019 budget, and I look forward to working with them now to provide the best governmental services at the lowest possible cost.”

Muscarella's appointment was not without controversy, though. Town Supervisor Laura Gillen was against the appointment, saying that the town should have held a special election to fill the seat.

“This proposal is unquestionably a move to unfairly influence the outcome of the November election. It grants unearned incumbency to the Republican machine’s declared candidate and disenfranchises every resident in the District from choosing their own representative. It’s disgraceful and un-American," Gillen said. “The Town of Hempstead has a long and shameful history of appointing Republican party stalwarts to seats they have not earned. When officials representing other districts substitute their voices for the residents in the district, democracy loses.”

The Republican majority on the Town Board defended their action, saying that it was both within the law and what other municipalities in the area, like the Town of North Hempstead, do. "The cost of a special election would be prohibitive, especially in this case where there will be an election for the seat in November," the board said.

Muscarella has been in the insurance business for 40 years and is currently a sales executive at Assured Partners Northeast LLC. Prior to this position, he was the owner/partner of Archer A. Associates Insurance Agency in Franklin Square. Muscarella grew up in Elmont, and is active in his community. He has been a member of the Sons of Italy in America Lodge since 1978, served as Elmont Little League Manager from 1990-1994, was Garden City Little League Manager from 2000-2010, is a Past Grand Knight of Franklin Square Twelve Apostles Council of the Knights of Columbus and has been president of the Franklin Square Lions Club since 2001. He was the Grand Marshal of the Franklin Square Memorial Day Parade and Franklin Square Historical Society Citizen of the Year in 2013.

“I have a genuine passion for public service, and I am so proud to be able to serve my friends and neighbors in the 2nd Council District,” Muscarella said. “There is nothing more important to me than earning the public’s trust and being accessible and responsive to my constituents.”

Muscarella is inviting residents to contact his office by phone (516) 812-3179 or email TMuscarella@tohmail.org. Additionally, he will be releasing a schedule of mobile town hall dates and locations in communities across the district.

The Second Councilmanic District includes Bellerose Terrace, Floral Park, Garden City, Garden City South, the incorporated area of New Hyde Park, Salisbury, South Floral Park, Stewart Manor, and portions of Bellerose, East Meadow, Elmont, Franklin Square, Hempstead, Uniondale and West Hempstead.