Meet the Candidates: McDonald Focuses on Results, Keeping Her Team Intact

For the past four years, Mayor Patricia Norris McDonald says that she has worked together with the Board of Trustees to deliver results that continue to make Malverne a better place to live.

McDonald is one of four incumbents who are seeking re-election this year when voters cast their ballots on March 15. She is running unopposed for another term as mayor. Judge James Dougherty, the village justice, also has an easy race as no one is threatening his position either.

The only competition is for the two trustee seats up for grabs as newcomer Dr. John Hassett has thrown his hat in the race. McDonald says she hopes to keep the current administration intact and see Deputy Mayor James Callahan and Trustee Michael Bailey win another term. 

Patch recently sat down with Mayor Patricia McDonald and asked her to tell us what her administration has accomplished over the past four years and what her plans are for the future. 

 McDonald said one of the major accomplishments shared by her and the rest of the board is the preservation of .

“We all worked together with both County executives [Suozzi and Mangano] and the Grossmann family,” said McDonald.

She explained that the village also received a portion of the farm that was generously donated by the Grossmann family.

In addition, Mayor McDonald said she worked with State Sen. Dean Skelos (R-NY) to secure funding for the much-needed renovation of both the Malverne and Westwood train stations. The village and the Long Island Rail Road also maintained a good working relationship, which allowed them to start and finish renovations efficiently, she added.

The current Board of the Trustees under the leadership of McDonald has secured funding for many projects in Malverne.

For the first time, Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) granted money for the continuation of The Downtown Beautification Project, which has included renovating and improving the parks in Malverne for the residents to enjoy.

She also secured funding money for the from Nassau County Legis. Francis Becker (R-Lynbrook) to offset the cost of building their new headquarters near the Malverne DPW. Prior to securing the funds McDonald and the Board worked together with the MVAC to get a location for them to house their vehicles, and continue to work with together.

The Board of Trustees has also been extremely fiscally responsible, she said. She explained that they have carefully watched how money is spent and have kept the tax increase as low as possible. Malverne also has one of the best bond ratings, compared to other surrounding villages, she added.

Mayor McDonald has many goals that she would like to accomplish in her next term in office. These include the continuation of the Downtown Beautification project, and the possible creation of a committee for Grossmann’s Farm to help decide what can be built on the portion of land that was donated to the village for the residents’ enjoyment. (There's been talk of finally adding a Recreation Center for the community.)

She also wants to continue, “to maintain the quality of service that the village offers to the residents, and improve what we can.”

“The current Board of Trustees has a lot of respect for each other and work very well together and it is important that the board remains in its current state,” McDonald said. “We all care about the community and we do what is best for the village.

“This community is unique. The people make what this village is and they do what is best for each other. I am proud to be the Mayor of Malverne.”

Stay with Patch with more covering of the Village Elections and our interviews with Trustee Michael Bailey, Trustee/Deputy Mayor James Callahan and Judge Dougherty. if you missed our profile on Dr. John Hassett.

Up Next: Patch talks to Trustee Michael Bailey.