Christopher Wales wants to give back to the Mineola community in which he’s lived for the past 20 years.
That’s why the dark horse independent candidate, running as member of his own self-styled Mustang Party, said he is making a run for a seat on the Village of Mineola board of trustees.
“Being a resident of the village for 20 years, I thought it would be good to give back a little to a village that’s been good to me,” Wales said, adding that the recent changes to the board following the departure of Mayor Jack Martins to the state Senate also prompted him to join the election fray.
“I figured it would be a good time for a newcomer to come in,” Wales said.
He’s up against two incumbents, Lawrence Werther and Thomas Kennedy, in the March 15 election.
Wales, 49, said he works as a customer service supervisor for a wedding album company. He is a former freelance photographer who still occasionally takes on freelance projects, and said he’s met a number of people in the community in the course of that work. He is also a former member of the Mineola Chamber of Commerce.
Wales spent five years volunteering his time with local cub scout pack 246, rising to the rank of cub master. He said someone else working with the sub scout pack suggested to Wales that he would make a good trustee for the village.
That planted a seed for Wales, who said he also was inspired to run by the success of first-time Republican and Tea Party candidates in the recent general election. He said the Tea Party slogan, “Taxed enough already” resonated with him. While some Tea Party ideals appeal to him, Wales said he’s a registered Republican who expresses his fiscal conservatism with an eco-friendly ethos.
His primary campaign theme is to see Mineola save money by developing more of a “green” infrastructure.
“I feel that Mineola could use a little push toward being a ‘greener’ village,” Wales said.
From April to November, he suggested that electric cars could be used to patrol the village in place of the gas-powered vehicles currently in use. He also said that open space near the municipal pool could be used to install solar panels to provide power for the pool facilities. And he suggested that solar panels might be installed on the roof of Village Hall to provide power for the building.
Wales said he would also seek to develop more activities in the village for youngsters in the community. He offered no specific examples, but said he’s working on developing some concepts for youth recreation.
Although he’s a lone independent candidate, Wales said he’s confident that he could work with the other members of the board.
He said he’s confident that one person can make a difference in the life of the community.
