Re-Electing the Mayor

By: Larry Gordon’

It’s clear that when an elected official is up for re-election and he or she has no opposition, it’s a sure sign they’re doing a great job and serving the people they represent very well.

That’s the story of Village of Lawrence Mayor Shlomo Nahmias and the two trustees who ran for office with him two years ago, Aaron Felder and Steven Gottesman.

The more than 100-year-old village at the western tip of Long Island is a known bastion of generosity and philanthropy that has made its mark over many decades. Nahmias, who was elected two years ago, represented a shift in the nature of leadership in the quaint village. In the past, becoming mayor of Lawrence was a position that a retired businessman took on as he neared the conclusion of his career.

But Shlomo “Sam” Nahmias, at 48, is in his prime as a business leader and lives with the adage that if you want something done right, give it to a busy person.

Nahmias is running the Village of Lawrence with vim, vigor, and ingenuity as he seeks to constantly improve the quality of life for all Lawrence residents. To that end, there are an extensive number of projects that the mayor has overseen these last two years as a way of leaving his mark and making Lawrence the standout location it has always been to live in and raise a family.

And there’s a lot that Mayor Nahmias and his trustees, especially the two running for re-election with him, Aaron Felder and Steven Gottesman, can be proud of. In a conference call with the mayor and Trustee Gottesman the other day (Felder was traveling home from Israel when we spoke) Gottesman, 63, pointed out that as an observer of local government for many years, he has never seen a mayor in a volunteer position like Sam Nahmias that has been so committed to improving the quality of life in the village.

So, you might be thinking that if the mayor and his team have no opposition in next week’s election, what’s the point of taking the time out to vote? As Mayor Nahmias explains, in an uncontested election like this one, the powers that be in Albany are particularly aware whenever there’s a community that takes its voting privilege seriously. As a result, they determine that this is a community worth paying attention to.

Since the Nahmias administration came to power in Lawrence, there have been multiple noticeable improvements. To date, over 800 streetlights have been replaced and updated. Also, many of our streets and roadways have been repaved, making it easier on our cars. And then there’s the addition of new technologically advanced parking meters that take credit cards, so you no longer have to keep feeding the meter with quarters.

In the year or so ahead, there are even greater and more important things on the Nahmias agenda for Lawrence. From a security perspective, there are scores of cameras going up around the village plus license plate readers that pay special attention to cars that may not belong here, and that is especially between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.

And there’s more. The Lawrence Yacht & Country Club is planning the construction of a 600-700-seat catering venue where weddings and bar mitzvahs can be held, and the mayor adds that he hopes to add as many as 20 hotel rooms to accommodate out-of-town guests attending local events.

So you see, Lawrence residents, your vote can be worth quite a lot next Tuesday, June 16. For the good of your family and the village, take ten minutes out of your day and cast your vote for a better future for us all. 

Read more of Larry Gordon’s articles at 5TJT.com. Follow 5 Towns Jewish Times on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for updates and live videos. Comments, questions, and suggestions are welcome at 5TJT.com and on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.