Incumbents win re-election in Valley Stream trustee race

Posted

Village trustee incumbents John Tufarelli and Sean Wright of the United Community Party won re-election against Achieve Party challengers Anthony Bonelli and Michael Morin in the recent Valley Stream village trustee race.

The final tally had Tufarelli and Wright with 1,790 and 1,727 votes, respectively, while 492 people cast their votes for Bonelli. The race was at large, meaning the highest vote-getters earned seats on the board.

Morin was a write-in candidate, and the village did not tally write-in votes, of which there were 120. Those votes would not have affected the outcome.

Voting was originally scheduled to take place on March 18, but was postponed to Sept. 15 because of the coronavirus pandemic. Additionally, the number of polling sites was reduced from the standard 12 locations to two. Mayor Ed Fare cited the coronavirus and a push to encourage mail-in ballots at the Aug. 17 village board meeting as reasons for the change.

Turnout was down by about a third from the previous year, when more than 3,000 people in the village cast their votes in the village mayoral race.

“It is an honor to be returned to office as trustee of my home village of Valley Stream.  My wife, Lisa, and I have chosen to raise our children here because of the people that make it so special,” Wright said in a statement. “That is why it is a privilege to continue to serve this outstanding community.”

“I am very humbled to have won re-election and to be able to serve the village I love for a fourth term,” Tufarelli said. “I am grateful that I can remain on this board to witness the benefits of the United Community Party’s investments that continue to help us achieve our goals, moving into a bright future as a community.”

Bonelli conceded the race, thanking his supporters, but was critical of the village decision to reduce the number of polling sites.