Candidate Profiles: Bill Hendrick

Bill Hendrick is running for his first term as mayor, after being late last year.

But the longtime resident has been a member of the village board for nearly 20 years — serving from 1989 to 1993 and then 1995 to the present.

Hendrick currently works as an attorney. He has a degree in political science from Hofstra University, a degree in marketing in management from St. John's University, and a Juris Doctor Degree from Brooklyn Law School.

Hendrick's community service involves membership with the Lynbrook Elks, Knights of Columbus and Ancient Order of Hibernians. He is a founding member and chairman of the Lynbrook Expo Committee, associate member and honorary member of Lynbrook Engine Co. No. 1.

He has two sons, Billy and Johnny.

Why are you running for re-election?

Obviously I was appointed mayor after Brian Curran left before the end of his term. I had been on the board quite a while, and I thought it time to add to the leadership of the board. I have a young board — they're only there a few years — and I thought there would be a lot I could add with 20 years of additional experience on the board, plus the fact that I like serving Lynbrook .

How do you feel about the job you personally have done so far on the Lynbrook village board?

I think I've done better than most. I would call the job well done to very good. I've been around a long time, I've seen a lot of good things happen. No one's perfect but I certainly rate my job skills … certainly rate up in the top 10 percent, and my heart's in the right place. I really have a heart for Lynbrook. I think I've done a good job so far.

What are some of the key challenges facing the village? How do you plan to address them?

The key challenges, one, are state mandates. They're unfunded, which we have to make up for. Those are the challenges. A rising retirement section for our employees that we pay to state, is balanced a bit on our back. I feel the challenges are keeping the taxes low because people aren't doing well. And the last challenge is to update, in a good way, our infrastructure and our commercial areas so that our tax base is strong.  

What would you like to see accomplished in your next term?

I would like the next term to accomplish some of those updating of the downtown and commercial areas, specifically I'm targeting — and I have the board targeting — the feather factory area, which is right over by the railroad. I've been working for 10 years to rebuild the movie theatre, which I think we're getting close to. I think it should be an updated triplex. It just needs an update. Regal knows it. It's a matter of their investment, whether Regal does investment or someone does it for them, it's something that definitely, definitely needs an update.

The third project is under the railroad trestle. Downtown, on both sides of the track, we have people interested. These people are willing to come in and lay out the cash — the MTA doesn't have the money and neither does the village.

If I would say the three — I would really say the updated movie house, a clean Atlantic Avenue under the railroad tracks, and the feather factory. If I can get two out of those three, or even three out of three, I'd be a very happy person.