McDonald Appoints Malverne Deputy Mayor

Malverne Mayor Patricia Norris McDonald recently appointed Trustee Joseph Hennessy to the position of deputy mayor following the loss of James Callahan, III.

The village board and the entire community continues to mourn the death of Callahan, who had held this title when he at the age of 42 late last month. 

Callahan had just been re-elected in March and was set to begin his fourth term on the village board when he suffered a stroke. He was rushed to the hospital, where doctors discovered an aggressive form of cancer that they were unable to treat. He passed away on May 26.

Callahan was a member of Malverne's Independent Party, as is Mayor McDonald,  while Hennessy belongs to the Village Party.

"This cross-party appointment is a continuation of prior practices for her administration in appointing the best individual, regardless of party affiliation," Trustee Michael Bailey, a fellow member of the Independent Party, told Patch.

Hennessy is a former village mayor and as trustee, he has been serving as the board's budget officer.

"Former Mayor Hennessy certainly has the experience and the abilities to represent the residents in the event that she is unavailable to act as mayor," Bailey continued. "Also, he has the full support and respect of the other members of the board."

Patch spoke to Hennessy only hours after he learned of the death of Callahan, who he greatly admired. They first met 12 years ago when Callahan was working as a village prosecutor.

"I told him we fought a lot of good fights and did a lot of good things for the village," Hennessy said when discussing the last conversation he had with Callahan, while sitting at his bedside in North Shore University hospital.

"Jim's background in law and dedication to the village made him an important part of this board," he said. "His talent will be hard to replace."

McDonald also has the option of appointing a new trustee to serve until March, when a special election will be held, but as of Wednesday, she had not made a decision regarding this matter.