Meet The Candidates: Thomas Hand For Town Council

TOWN OF OYSTER BAY, NY — Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 2. With voting just around the corner, Patch is reaching out to candidates across Nassau County to find out why they're running for office, and what they hope to achieve for residents.

Republican Thomas Hand is running to keep his seat on the Oyster Bay Town Council. He is one of six people running for the three seats in an at-large election. There are no districts — each council member represents the entire town.

Hand, 61, is a resident of Massapequa Park. He is running for his second term on the town council. He previously served as the chairman of the Massapequa Water District Board of Water Commissioners and as an officer on the Executive Board of the Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners Association.

When not governing, Hand works as an executive for FedEx.

Why are you seeking elective office?

As your Town Councilman, I will continue to seek savings in every corner of our government and implement efficiencies so that we can continue to hold the line on taxes and spending. Since taking office in 2017, I voted to cut Town property taxes for 2018, and sustain this tax cut in 2019, 2020, and 2021. We will continue this lower rate of taxes in 2022. This tax cut has put over $5.2 million back in the pockets of homeowners rather than in the coffers of government. Through spending restraints, I have helped reduce Town debt by over $165 million. This debt reduction initiative has resulted in the Town earning six credit rating upgrades from Wall Street. Each credit rating upgrade saves taxpayers significant money when we bond to repave roadways and improve our parks. While we increased street paving funds by $25 million, I believe more must be allocated to ensure a greater number of streets are repaved each year. I also believe its important to continue renewing our local parks with new playgrounds and other infrastructure upgrades that help keep our community beautiful.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The most pressing issues facing are what have remained by top priority as Councilman, and that's protecting residents' wallet while also safeguarding the quality of life in our communities. I am proud of the many efforts the Town Board has been in tearing down zombie homes, improving parks, pools and beaches. I have worked diligently to make the necessary improvements and take actions needed to protect our communities, while always looking out for our bottom line. These efforts will continue in my next term as Town Councilman.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

While I appreciate my opponents' interest in public service, I don't believe the other slate has the experience and knowledge of government necessary to effectively and responsibly run our Town. My personal experience in the public sector gives me the knowledge and skillset to help run our Town like a business, knowing where to look for cost efficiencies and savings throughout the Town.

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

I am very proud of the way in which we responded to the effects of the pandemic. In addition to holding the line on taxes, we worked with local businesses to help them reopen safely and sooner than originally permitted by the State. We cut the red tape and allowed for restaurants to set up outdoor dining, eliminating permit fees and streamlining the process. We then expanded the program to further assist them. We helped local school districts by setting up COVID testing facilities and opening them up to teachers, students and their families. We then expanded the program to offer saliva-based testing, helping to ease the process for children to be tested when necessary with the same level of efficiency. We also assisted school districts in keeping traditional events such as graduation ceremonies, offering resources and facilities to allow them to host in a safe manner. Through our workforce career center, we offer hundreds of virtual courses to those looking to reenter the workforce, and also offer free online resume services. To further help those in need, our Town has continued to work with non-profit organizations to collect food for local pantries and blood donations to replenish supply to local hospitals. As Town Councilman, I am most proud that the Town Board and workforce kept government fully operational throughout the pandemic. From sanitation collection to approving building permits, paving roadways and keeping recreation facilities open, we always kept our operations open.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

The quality of life that is cherished by residents throughout our Town is something that I work every day to help preserve and protect. In addition to holding the line on taxes, improving our facilities and recreational spaces, and expanding our road repaving program are high priorities.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

As a senior manager for a Fortune 500 Company, I have received CEO honors for outstanding contributions in the areas of quality, cost reduction and productivity enhancements. It is these qualities I proudly bring to my position on the Oyster Bay Town Board, as well as a long and distinguished track record of protecting the environment. I have served as Chairman of the Massapequa Water District Board of Water Commissioners and as an officer on the Executive Board of the Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioners Association. As Councilman, I have used this experience to help oversee approvals to assist the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation jumpstart remediation of the Grumman Navy Plume.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

I learned early on that serving the public entails truly listening to residents. I have spent the last four years making sure that I represent their best interests and go to work every day with the goal of doing the greatest good for the most amount of constituents. As a representative of the public, I make sure listen to constituents and get to know what is important to them and their quality of life.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I believe my experience in the private sector helps me in our ongoing mission to improve finances, holding employees and contractors accountable and protecting taxpayer dollars. I hope to continue my top priority of keeping our finances in order - we have already successfully received six bond rating upgrades since I first became Councilman in 2017. I hope to continue these efforts and build on the many promises we've already delivered as your representative on the Town Board.