Hassett Challenges Canzoneri-Callahan For Village Trustee Seat

Dr. Carol Hassett threw her hat in the race for a seat on the village board Tuesday, challenging for the remaining three years of the late Deputy Mayor James Callahan's term in office.

Hassett submitted her paperwork on Feb. 14, the last day for candidates wishing to run in the March 20 special election to file their nominating petitions with Village Hall, according to clerk Terry Emmel. She'll be running under the newly formed Common Sense Party.

She'll be going up against Canzoneri-Callahan, the Independent Party candidate and Callahan's widow. Canzoneri-Callahan was appointed in July to fill the vacant seat left behind by her husband ain May from an aggressive form of cancer. Jim's death at the age of 42 occurred only months after he had been re-elected to the board and in December, Canzoneri-Callahan announced that she would be running in the special election to carry out the goals her husband had set for his fourth term.

Dr. Hassett did not return requests for comment from Patch. According to healthgrades.com, she holds a Ph.D in psychology and practices in Hempstead. Dr. Hassett has devoted her time to the village by serving on the Malverne Library Board for more than 25 years, the , where she is president of the Ladies Auxiliary, and the (MVAC). The MVAC Web site lists her as vice chairman of their 2010-2011 board. were also instrumental in orchestrating a fundraiser in October 2010 to raise money for the Ambulance Corps.' new headquarters.

They've also been involved in the  between MVAC and the village. Her son, ran in the 2011 village election against Callahan and Trustee Michael Bailey, but lost. 

Stay with Patch for more developments regarding the Malverne village elections.