Hilary Becker, the deputy mayor of Lynbrook, and two residents who were vocal opponents of a recent development proposal in the village announced on Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019, that they have formed a new political party and will run for three village board positions in March. The trio of challengers will run as members of the Preserve Lynbrook party, which they formed in the wake of a controversy over the proposed apartment complex that they said could still be approved. Credit: Howard Schnapp

The deputy mayor of Lynbrook and two residents who were vocal opponents of a recent development proposal in the village announced on Wednesday that they have formed a new political party and will run for three village board positions up for election in March.


Deputy Mayor Hilary Becker said he will run for mayor, challenging Mayor Alan Beach. Village residents Antoniella Tavella and Steven Liguori said they will run for trustee seats on the village board, challenging trustees Robert Boccio and Ann Marie Reardon.

In a statement provided by a spokesman, Beach confirmed the three incumbents are running for re-election.

"I ... believe our past record of success and future vision for our Village will be well received by voters," Beach said.

Boccio and Reardon did not respond to requests for comment.

Becker, Tavella and Liguori will run as members of the Preserve Lynbrook party, which they formed in the wake of a controversy over a proposed apartment complex that they said could still be approved.

“I will do everything in my power to prevent this project from moving forward,” Becker said, backed by about 30 supporters who stood on the steps of Village Hall waving signs bearing the candidates’ names.

The village board in November unanimously rejected the proposal for the six-story, 200-unit apartment complex called the Cornerstone at Lynbrook, saying the project was too big for the community.

Anthony Bartone, the developer behind the project, said Wednesday that “there are no new plans” for the project.

“We have simply been listening at this point,” he said.

But the candidates said the village board had not in fact rejected the project, and instead voted only to cancel a public hearing on it.

“We expect it’s going to come back,” Becker said.

Asked about the status of the project, Beach noted the board's November vote rejecting it. 

"No additional plans have been offered by the developer since then," he said.

Beach appointed Becker as deputy mayor in December 2017. Becker, whose father was Lynbrook's mayor, also has a real estate business in the village.

Liguori, 62, is a senior vice president of a Manhattan insurance company. He said he has lived in Lynbrook since 1957.

Tavella, 45, said she previously worked in accounting and now cares for her three children. She has lived in Lynbrook since around 2010, she said.

Neither Liguori nor Tavella have previously held elected office, they said.

The election is scheduled for March 19.

Rock climbing? Indoor beach volleyball? Water parks? Arts and crafts? NewsdayTV's Elisa DiStefano and Newsday deputy lifestyle editor Meghan Giannotta have your look at ways to spend your winter break. Credit: Newsday/Howard Schnapp, Kendall Rodriguez; Gary Licker

Things to do now on LI Rock climbing? Indoor beach volleyball? Water parks? Arts and crafts? NewsdayTV's Elisa DiStefano and Newsday deputy lifestyle editor Meghan Giannotta have your look at ways to spend your winter break.

Rock climbing? Indoor beach volleyball? Water parks? Arts and crafts? NewsdayTV's Elisa DiStefano and Newsday deputy lifestyle editor Meghan Giannotta have your look at ways to spend your winter break. Credit: Newsday/Howard Schnapp, Kendall Rodriguez; Gary Licker

Things to do now on LI Rock climbing? Indoor beach volleyball? Water parks? Arts and crafts? NewsdayTV's Elisa DiStefano and Newsday deputy lifestyle editor Meghan Giannotta have your look at ways to spend your winter break.

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