Michael Uttaro and Diane Thorp have announced that they are running for the two Village of Williston Park trustee positions open in the March 20 election.
Both candidates said they will be formally filing petitions next week to run as members of the Representative Party.
Outgoing Williston Park Trustee William Darmstadt, who has opted not to seek a second term, is also member of that party.
Uttaro and Thorn said Darmstadt asked them both about running for trustee.
No other candidates have yet filed petitions to run for the trustee positions. Trustee Barbara Alagna has said she is undecided about seeking a four-year term, and was unavailable to comment on her plans. Candidates have until Feb. 14 to file petitions to run.
“It’s something I’ve always been interested in, to be part of the decision-making in the community,” Uttaro said. “I’d like to get involved and do what I can to help.”
Uttaro has worked for the Nassau County Fire Marshal’s Office for the past 13 years and is currently a division supervisor in the general inspection division and a New York State code enforcement officer.
He has been a member of several Village of Williston Park committees, including the architectural review board and the parking and safety committee.
He is also a former chief in the Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Department and has served actively in that department for 23 years.
Uttaro said his service in directing the Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Department was a good preparation for serving as a trustee in the village.
“I enjoyed my service in the fire department. I enjoyed the contact I had with government officials,” he said.
Thorp is a registered nurse with more than 36 years of nursing experience as a staff nurse, a nurse manager and health care administrator.
Since 2003, she has been working for IPRO, the Quality Improvement Organization for Healthcare in New York State, working closely with the state Department of Health ensuring that health-care organizations and providers adhere to state and federal health-care regulations. She also is the department of health instructor for two certification programs for health care professionals.
Prior to working at IPRO, Thorp was director of patient services at Metropolitan Jewish Home Care in New York City. Before that, she worked at the Winthrop-University Hospital Certified Home Health Agency, advancing from staff nurse to supervisor. She subsequently opened Winthrop’s licensed home care agency, Winthrop at Home, and served as its director of patient services.
Thorp said she thinks her experience as an administrator in the health-care field provides her with a background for the job as trustee and she has the time to devote to the job.
“This is the point in my life where I’m able to make the commitment to it,” she said.
Both candidates have been involved in volunteer work in the village.
Thorp is a block captain for the Williston Park Neighborhood Watch and works on the village beautification committee.
She spent 13 years as was a leader for the Nassau County Girl Scouts Troop 1711 and was also active with Boy Scouts Troop 201.
When her three children, Melissa, Peter and Christina, were growing up, she was involved with St. Aidan’s CYO swimming and basketball, coached in the Albertson-Herricks and Williston Park Little Leagues, and for the Herricks High School independent swim team.
Thorp has served on the parking and safety committee and is a past member of the ladies auxiliary of the Williston Park Volunteer Fire Department. She is also a former member of the Herricks PTA.
Uttaro is also a block captain for the Williston Park Neighborhood Watch. His two oldest children of three attend St. Aidan’s School and he has been coaching CYO soccer for the past two years.
Both candidates said they’re looking forward to working with the current members of the Williston Park Village Board if they’re elected.
Uttaro said he’d like to explore obtaining grants to improve landscaping along Willis Avenue, in the same way he said former mayor Doreen Ehrbar funded improvements along Hillside Avenue.
“It’s definitely become a destination for shoppers and restaurants,” Uttaro said.
He said he’s also interested in focusing on safety issues, particularly traffic safety, in Williston Park.
Thorp said she’s interested in maintaining the village as it is now, and keeping taxes down.
“It’s a good village. It’s friendly. I’d like to keep the taxes reasonable,” she said. “It’s a great place to live and I want to see it continue to be that.”
