From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (ann-parry.com)
November 22, 2017
The Town of Hempstead and Nassau County 2017 elections permeated the fabric of my life this year, and countless Long Islanders and events were part of the material.
Merrick, NY, USA. Sept. 9, 2017. L-R, SUE MOLLER, (D – Merrick), candidate for Hempstead Town Council Dist. 6; and ERIN KING SWEENEY, (R – Wantagh) Hempstead Town Councilwoman Dist. 5, pause chatting together for photo at Merrick Fall Festival. (© 2017 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)
When I covered the January 15th “Our First Stand Rally” at Westbury supporting the Affordable Care Act, both of my daughters were participants. And when I photographed the January 24th visit to Sen. Schumer’s L.I. office in Melville by the activist group Together We Will Long Island, my older daughter, Sue Moller, was the TWW-LI admin there. These were the first times my daughters happened to be involved with political events I covered.
Merrick, NY, USA. Sept. 9, 2017. L-R, Slate mates LAURA GILLEN, Democratic candidate for Town of Hempstead Supervisor; SYLVIA CABANA, Democratic candidate for Town of Hempstead Clerk; and SUE MOLLER, of Merrick, Democratic candidate for Hempstead Town Council District 6, pose for photo at Merrick Fall Festival and Street Fair. (© 2017 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)
Protest marches, resistance events were certainly helping raise awareness of protestors’ reactions to the Trump administration’s goals and actions, but advice from Bernie Sanders and some others strongly stuck in my mind: Protesting isn’t enough. “Resistors” need to run for office and to help fellow activists run for office.
Then, after covering two more events – the January 30th Press Conference when Nassau County Democratic Party leaders endorsed LAURA CURRAN for N.C. Executive and JACK SCHNIRMAN for N.C. Comptroller, and the TWW-LI “Politics 101” Event – I heard exciting news: My daughter Sue was running for Hempstead Town Council!
With that candidacy as catalyst, civic engagement and politics ended up being even a bigger part of my 2018 than I could have guessed at the start of the year.
Garden City, NY, USA. June 21, 2017. Maria Cucurillo waves to person outside window, at fundraiser for Hempstead Town Council candidate. (© 2017 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)
- SLIDESHOW “All Come To Look For America 2017” includes Long Island officials, candidates, & others:
2017 Town of Hempstead/Nassau County: GALLERY
