North Hempstead Town Council Candidates: Meet Peter Zuckerman

EAST HILLS, NY — Voters in the Town of North Hempstead's 2nd District will head to the polls Nov. 5 to cast their ballots for council member. Incumbent Democrat Peter Zuckerman, who was first appointed in 2014 and won a four-year term the following year, seeks his second term against Republican challenger Ragini Srivastava and Green Party candidate Cassandra Lems.

The 2nd District includes Albertson, East Hills, East Williston, Glenwood Landing, Greenvale, Herricks, Manhasset Hills, Roslyn Harbor, Roslyn Heights and Searingtown.

Patch reached out to the candidates via email and/or Facebook where we could find them to hear where they stand on important issues affecting the community.

Here are their responses.

Peter Zuckerman

• Age (as of Sept. 1): 52
• Town of residence: East Hills
• Position sought: North Hempstead Town council
• Party affiliation: Democrat
• Family: My wife, Brenda, and my three children, Ben, Matthew and Emily.
• Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? No.
• Education: Graduate of Emory University with a bachelor of arts degree, and New York Law School with juris doctorate.
• Occupation: Councilman and real estate attorney.
• Previous or current elected or appointed office: Currently an elected councilman, seeking re-election.
• Campaign Website: Facebook.com/Peter.Zuckerman.52

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

Finances. As a member of the town board here I am proud to say that we have been awarded by Moody's a Aaa bond rating, which is the highest bond rating a municipality can receive. I aim to continue to be fiscally responsible and ensure our taxpayer dollars are being put to good use.

See also:

• North Hempstead Town Council Candidates: Meet Ragini Srivastava
• North Hempstead Town Council Candidates: Meet Cassandra Lems

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

My experience. Having served as a trustee in the Village of East Hills for 11 years and now as a Town of North Hempstead councilperson for the past six years.

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.

Since I have been in office we have consistently passed a budget that stays within the tax cap, increased funding for infrastructure improvements, reduced debt by $32 million, and have maintained and expanded on the services offered by the town by securing grants and having the ability to bond with the lowest interest rates possible due to our Aaa bond rating, which means the taxpayers are getting the most for the money with the lowest possible impact.

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

Prior to serving on the town board, I served my community for 11 years as a trustee for the Village of East Hills. During my tenure, I helped oversee the development of The Park at East Hills on the site of the former Roslyn Air National Guard Base. The park, which was completed in 2006, contains a 12,000-square-foot pool, tennis courts, a state-of-the-art fitness center, a theater, several sports fields, and a restaurant. Also during my time as a trustee, I helped revamp the Length of Service Awards Program, the pension system for volunteer firefighters that serve the Roslyn area. I have also represented the village as a prosecutor in Village Court. This kind of government experience has served me well here at the town and I look forward to being awarded the opportunity to continue to serve the residents of our district.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

No response.

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

No response.