Oceanside resident Gomie Persaud is the newest clerk-treasurer for the Village of Kings Point, after the recent retirement of Louis DiDomenico.
“We’re thrilled to have Gomie, who’s extremely qualified and experienced,” said Village of Kings Point Mayor Michael Kalnick.
DiDomenico worked for the Village of Kings Point for eight years and had planned to move to North Carolina. Persaud has served as deputy clerk-treasurer for the Village of Kings Point since April.
“The opportunity came up and I needed a change, so I decided to take the challenge,” Persaud said. “I just felt it was time to move. Sometimes you just have that feeling.”
Persaud said she was not shocked by the large turnout at the Kings Point village election June 21, where hundreds of votes were cast for two write-in candidates in a last minute challenge to trustees Pete Aaron and Ron Horowitz.
Write-in candidates Mojgan Sasson and David Schifter were prompted to run by a 9.8 percent hike in village taxes approved by trustees March 31, which Village of Kings Point Mayor Michael Kalnick said was motivated by state mandates. Kings Point Civic Association President Marsha Rotman had stoked opposition to the tax hike through e-mail blasts and community meetings.
“As a village clerk, you learn not to expect anything,” Persaud said. “I’m just walking in now, so I have to get a feel for everything. Hopefully the trust will come again.”
Persaud is originally from the small South American country of Guyana, which is home to less than 800,000 people, according to the country’s 2002 census. She left the tropical nation as a young bride approximately 19 years ago. Her husband’s family was already living in the United States.
“He did not want to be away from his family and I wanted to be with him,” she said. “You always find when you are in a small country that you don’t have as much opportunity as you should.”
Fortunately, there was no language barrier in her new home. As a former British colony, she said Guyanese children are taught English in school.
With her family now also living in the United States, Persaud rarely goes back to visit.
“It’s beautiful here,” she said of Great Neck. “I’ve never associated much with the North Shore, but it’s beautiful here.”
Persaud spent 10 years working for the Village of Island Park, five as accountant-clerk followed by five as clerk. She also spent eight years in banking.
She said her new position as clerk-treasurer entails more responsibility than her previous position, record keeping, presiding at meetings, minutes, and town finances.
“I never worked with a police department before, so for me this is a step up,” she said. “The experience is what counts.”
Although she cannot tell the future, Persaud does not foresee leaving the Village of King Point anytime soon.
“We are here to serve the community,” she said. “I think all of use here try to do that to the best of our ability.”
