By Hank Russell
A Nassau County legislator has been appointed the new supervisor of the Town of Hempstead as the former supervisor stepped down to run for a judgeship.
John R. Ferretti, Jr. was sworn in as the new supervisor on August 5, replacing Donald X Clavin, Jr. According to a report from The Long Island Press, Clavin left abruptly after the town council held a meeting. Deputy Mayor Dorothy Goosby was in charge of the meeting until half an hour later, when fellow Councilmember Thomas Muscarella introduced a bill to appoint Ferretti as supervisor. The bill passed, 5-0, with Goosby abstaining.
Prior to his tenure as an elected official, Ferretti served as the Chief Deputy County Clerk of Nassau County, according to his biography. In that role, he oversaw over 100 staff members with a $6 million budget and annual revenue collection exceeding $240 million dollars for federal, state, and local governments. Ferretti also served as the liaison to the New York State Land Title Association and assisted in drafting legislation to waive clerk recording fees for victims of Super Storm Sandy.
“The Town of Hempstead is my home, and I am honored for this opportunity to serve my fellow residents as Supervisor of this beautiful township,” said Ferretti in a statement. “As a proven tax cutter, I am committed to delivering real results by budgeting responsibly while investing in infrastructure, prioritizing public safety, and enhancing our parks. By working hard every day, I will reaffirm my pledge of dedication to the residents of Hempstead Town and will continue to lead with transparency, integrity, and a tireless focus on the issues that matter most to our families, seniors, and future generations.”
Clavin said he was stepping down to run for Nassau County Court, as previously reported by Long Island Life & Politics. Before being elected supervisor in 2019, he spent 18 years as the receiver of taxes. In that role, he was the first in New York State to implement the first paperless e-Billing system, as well as Long Island’s first Autopay tax payment feature and drive-thru payment options. In addition, he hosted numerous free taxpayer forums in every Hempstead Town community.
“Today, Don Clavin made the difficult decision to step down after 24 years as an elected official in the Town of Hempstead,” said town spokesperson Brian Devine in a statement. “As a result of his sudden resignation, the Hempstead Town Board installed John Ferretti as Supervisor. This action, which has been used by both Democrats and Republicans in various municipalities, ensures continuity of services for residents of America’s largest township. As an elected official, Ferretti has a proven record of cutting taxes while providing high-quality services to residents, an attitude which he will bring to his new role as Town Supervisor.”
“The Board’s action ensures continuity of representation for residents of America’s largest township,” Nassau County Republican Committee Chairman Joseph G. Cairo, Jr. added. “I am confident that Supervisor Ferretti will provide excellent leadership for the town, bringing a solid record of reducing taxes and providing high quality services.”
While many applauded the appointment of a new supervisor, some met this moment with confusion and outrage. “Don Clavin just stepped down as Hempstead Supervisor—exactly as we predicted last week—so that [Nassau County Executive Bruce] Blakeman’s chosen crony could gain an advantage in the upcoming election. This is a shameful attempt to circumvent the will of the voters and dismantle the democratic process,” said Legislator and County Executive candidate Seth Koslow (D-Merrick).
“For four years, Blakeman has treated the people of Nassau and Hempstead like his personal ATM—bankrolling massive legal fees, funding his own personal army, and lining the pockets of his friends with taxpayer dollars, all while taxes in Hempstead have gone up by 12%,” Koslow continued. “We can’t afford four more years of Bruce Blakeman or their continued control of Hempstead.”
Nassau Democrats called out the GOP for appointing Ferretti in secret during a July 1 press conference, as LILP previously reported. But, at that time, the town said there was no truth to the matter that Clavin was stepping down.
But Cairo said other municipalities such as the Towns of Babylon, North Hempstead and the City of Long Beach have used “this time-honored and appropriate mechanism,” adding, “What’s more, both Democrat and Republican majorities in control of local governments have employed this practice.”
This November, Ferretti will seek to be elected to the post as he faces his Democrat opponent, Joe Scianbio, an attorney who served with the Marines and the New York Police Department.