Glen Cove City Council Candidates: Meet Donna McNaughton

GLEN COVE, NY — Glen Cove voters will head to the polls Nov. 5 to cast their ballots for mayor and city council. Patch reached out to all the candidates via email and/or Facebook to hear where they stand on important issues affecting the community.

Here are the responses for those who participated. The answers have been lightly edited for clarity.

Donna McNaughton

• Age (as of Sept. 1): 73
• Town of residence: Glen Cove
• Position sought: City Council
• Party affiliation: Republican
• Family: Spouse, Neil McNaughton; three children: Elizabeth Cohen, Donald and Douglas; 11 grandchildren.
• Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? Daughter, Elizabeth Cohen is a police clerk at Glen Cove Police Department.
• Education: Graduate of St. John's Law School with Juris Doctor degree.

• Occupation: Lawyer for more than 25 years.
• Previous or current elected or appointed office: City council.
• Campaign Website: None.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The single most pressing issue facing our city is the quality of life to be enjoyed by our community. My decisions will be based on keeping real estate taxes at a reasonable level, while making sure sufficient funds are available to ensure that our residents can maintain a high quality of life. The means and ability of all of our departments to be able to continue serving the community to their fullest will have a positive effect on our quality of life. I will do whatever I can to avoid cutting services.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

Life experience.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)?

No response.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Accommodating our aging population and encouraging our younger population to remain.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

Many years of volunteering in community activities. Past president of the Glen Cove Zoning Board; 11-year Executive Board member and pro bono attorney for the Glen Cove Sage Foundation (fundraising arm of the Glen Cove Senior Center); board member for over 25 years and past chairwoman of the board of managers for the Glen Cove YMCA; coach; board member and president of Glen Cove Junior Baseball Girls' Softball League in the 1980s and early 1990s; served on city's Hardship Review and Assessment Review Boards in the early 1990s.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

Follow your heart and do the right thing, even if it is contrary to what other's opinions are.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

No response.