There is one incumbent and two challengers running for two available trustee positions on the Farmingdale Board of Education. The incumbent, current Vice President Stephen G. Wilson is vying against John Capobianco and William Meilink. Current Board Member Charles Russo is not seeking re-election.

The positions are for a three-year term and are at large. The budget election and trustee vote will be held on Tuesday, May 20 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Howitt Middle School in the east gymnasium.

All candidates were asked a series of questions. Their answers appear in alphabetical order. John Capobianco did not supply a headshot photo as requested.

Farmingdale Village resident John E. Capobianco is the owner and an instructor at Nijiuroku Jiu Jitsu, Ltd., a martial arts and tennis establishment and Capobianco Creations, a bonsai and landscape gardening business.

A longtime tennis instructor for the Farmingdale Youth Council and Farmingdale Adult Education, Capobianco was also a Farmingdale Junior Team Tennis and certified tennis instructor for the United States Professional Tennis Registry. He is also president of the Long Island Chrysanthemum Society and Bonsai Society of Greater New York, Inc., was past show chair of the Long Island Mum Show and the Inaugural Yoshimura Show and Competition and delegate of MidAtlantic Bonsai Societies, Inc.

Farmingdale Observer (FO): Why are you seeking election to the board?

John Capobianco: I believe that I can be effective in moving the district forward. I believe that my unique background of teaching for profit, and working with not-for-profit organizations has provided me with an insight toward doing more with less, and still providing a quality product.

FO: What is the most important issue currently facing your school district?

Capobianco: The crushing property tax burden, caused by unfunded mandates and an unfair distribution formula. Long Island is not getting its fair share from New York State. We need to take the fight to Albany, much the way New York City's Campaign for fiscal equity did.

FO: If elected what ideas/suggestions do you have on how to bring about any necessary changes to the district?

Capobianco: Fighting Albany for our fair share, while we reduce the expenses that we have control of, using a variety of approaches, such as: Solar Energy, Co-Generation, Bulk Purchasing, Consolidation of services, creation of new revenue streams.

Farmingdale resident William Meilink is a Civil Engineer for Nassau County Public Works with a degree from Nassau Community College. A married father of two, Meilink is the former president of Farmingdale Youth Council and a member for 16 years. He presently serves as the executive vice president and chairman of the FYC Budget Committee. Meilink is a member of Farmingdale School District Facilities Advisory Committee, Farmingdale Community Summit and former Farmingdale Soccer, LIJSL and PAL basketball coach.

FO: Why are you seeking election to the board?

William Meilink: As a regular attendee of school board meetings I can bring expertise and a balance to the school board through my years of experience as a project manager working with budgets and accomplishing goals.

FO: What is the most important issue currently facing your school district?

Meilink: The success of Farmingdale Public Schools depends on striking a balance between the district's educational integrity and a budget that the community can afford. Educating the students is one of the most important things that a community can do.

The school buildings and facilities need Capital Improvement and as a member of the Facilities Advisory Committee I know what is required to accomplish the work. I have over 27 years of construction experience including construction management on multi-million dollar projects. I want to continue with the improvement of the Capital Facilities including new lighting, windows and additional upgrades to the heating and ventilating systems in order to lower energy costs and improve the learning environment for both the students and teachers. Also I think the federal government should be funding part of any bond that saves energy. Homeowners get a tax credit, and I think our local members of Congress and the Senators need to be pushed to do the same thing for the schools.

I want to ensure that the board of education gets adequate community input on residents' views and needs.

FO: If elected what ideas/suggestions do you have on how to bring about any necessary changes to the district?

Meilink: The Administration has gotten the boilers replaced in the schools on a pay as you go basis, but I want to get an Energy Smart Bond put up to the community for a vote.

I am familiar with many of the school policies, and feel the administration and board of education has done a good job updating and implementing the present policies. I want this to continue.

Current Board Vice President Stephen G. Wilson is a retired accountant and bank chief financial officer. A married father of one, Wilson holds a BBA in accounting from Hofstra University.

FO: Why are you seeking re-election to the board?

Stephen Wilson: We need to continue to maintain and enhance where possible the education provided for our children using the financial resources that our community can afford. During my first term we have been able to significantly enhance the district's administration, high school, audit/internal controls functions, financial base and curriculum. We have also started to refurbish the district's physical assets. Over the next three years we need to continue each of the above efforts, expanding the curriculum review started this year, and the capital asset needs of the district while supporting the administration and staff in their continuing efforts to provide the best education financially possible for our children. Continuity on the board is an integral part of accomplishing the above goals and I want to be a part of the board.

FO: If re-elected what ideas/suggestions do you have on how to bring about any necessary changes to the district?

Wilson: First and foremost continuing to be as involved as I have been during my first term. Continuing to use my financial and managerial experience to work with and support administration in their continued efforts in each of the areas dicussed in 10 above. Continue to build trust from the community in spending their tax dollars wisely so that we can accelerate the refurbishment of the district's physical assets. This is currently being worked on as we have made small improvements (mainly boilers) in a timely and cost effective manner; and with the low tax rate increases we have achieved in each of the last two budgets and the current proposed budget. Demonstrate strong support for administration and staff through more visible presence at the district schools. Continue our efforts to be an organized block of Long Island school districts in our ongoing campaign to get more state aid from Albany.