Meet The Candidates: Gaitley Stevenson-Mathews For GC Council

GLEN COVE, NY — Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 2. And 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.

Twelve candidates are seeking six seats on the Glen Cove City Council — including Gaitley Stevenson-Mathews, who is vying for re-election.

Stevenson-Mathews, a voice and speech coach for more than 30 years, has served on the city council since 2020. The 60-year-old Democrat volunteers in preparing meals for North Shore Sheltering, is a member of the North Shore Historical Museum, serves as an Elder at the First Presbyterian Church, and is an associate member of Calvary A.M.E church, where he sings in the choir, according to his campaign website.

You can learn more about Stevenson-Mathews below, or by clicking here.

Why are you seeking elective office?

As much as I love Glen Cove's rich history, the beauty of our beaches, and our wonderful parks, it's the people of Glen Cove who are our very greatest commodity.

Through my work as a volunteer, in helping with many causes and initiatives, and through my participation in civic and business organizations, I have gotten to know so many of our residents. I feel strongly that we can and must do better by the people of the city. This was my impetus in throwing my hat into the ring to originally run for office and this continues to be my driving force today.

My background in administration, my organizational skills, and my ability to stand my ground and push for what is right for the people, I feel, have helped me serve the people of the city. I'm proud of my record of always putting the best interest of the people ahead of my own and I feel my background and skills make me well suited for the task at hand. I am seeking reelection so that I can continue to stand up and fight for the people of the city.

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

The single most pressing issue for our city is maintaining the quality of life that we have come to expect from Glen Cove.

There are two prongs to this — affordability and population density. It is difficult for young families and seniors on fixed incomes to afford to live in Glen Cove. It is heartbreaking that many, whose families have lived here for generations, can no longer make Glen Cove their home because of lack of affordable housing and due to our ever-increasing tax burden. This is also impacted by population growth and density. As we make decisions on any development project, increased population density brings challenges related to infrastructure, schools, sanitation, emergency services, and public transportation.

Addressing these challenges include better governance, especially as it relates to efficiency and bringing a balanced approach to development. As most know, I voted against piercing the tax cap and voted against the 2021 tax increase. I felt the increase was simply too much, especially given the hardship brought on by our current pandemic. Rather than rely on excessive increases in taxes, we must create a government that is leaner and more cost-effective. This requires creative thinking, long-term planning, and input from the community.

In addressing these challenges, I will continue to push for more public-private partnerships, for strategic, long-term planning, and more accountability.

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

I am an independent thinker, an administrator, and a problem solver. I know how to work with people, I know how to manage budgets, and I know how to get things done. I'm proud of my record of fiscal responsibility, of always standing up for our families, our veterans, and our seniors, and I'm proud of my record of always putting the best interest of the people of Glen Cove ahead of my own.

As far as my voting record. Yes, I voted against the mayor and the majority on some key issues — I voted against piercing the tax cap, I voted against the 2021 tax increase — I felt it was too much in the midst of a pandemic, and, when a resolution was before me including an increase in density to the Livingston Project, I did not vote to send it forward. I did however stand with the Mayor and my colleagues on some great legislation that I am proud of — from obtaining liability insurance to protect our city from catastrophic loss, to implementing a Foreclosure Registry, to upgrading our water wells — these are good, positive improvements.

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

The coronavirus hit us so very hard and continues to impact our lives. As with many, I lost dear friends and family members to the disease. The vaccine rollout on the state level and subsequently, the county and city levels was far too slow. This, from my perspective, was our very greatest shortcoming.

As much as we wanted to get vaccines to residents, they just weren't available. Once the vaccines were available, things did move more quickly and more efficiently. As Liaison to the Senior Center, as a Founding Member of NOSH, a program of the North Shore Soup Kitchen, and through my involvement through our houses of worship, I was able to help identify many of our most vulnerable who needed vaccines.

Also, as others were doing, I was helping seniors negotiate the challenges associated with signing up for the vaccines online. There were many, many shortfalls on the front end of the vaccine program. Despite this, Nassau County has the highest vaccination rate in the state and the second-highest rate in the nation.

We can learn from other states. Interestingly, West Virginia chose not to join a federal plan, but instead created a network of pharmacies, pairing them with long-term care facilities. With this approach, more of their long-term care residents received the vaccine much more quickly than other states, including New York. Through this experience, we have learned much, and we must be better prepared.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

In moving forward as a city we have to continue to make better choices that both reduce our carbon footprint and save taxpayers' money. The addition of solar energy to the senior center and volunteer fire department, the installation of LED bulbs throughout the city, as well as the electric car charging station are encouraging. Renewable energy efforts should be expanded. This will reduce Glen Cove's demands on fossil fuels and make the community more environmentally sustainable.

As infrastructure is developed, it is critical to include bike paths and pedestrian walkways.

Becoming a Clean Energy Community will give Glen Cove opportunities to receive more grants for better green development. Enforcement of the SEQR requirements from the State Dept of Environmental Conservation is an important tool in this effort.

As a member of the Friends of Hempstead Plains, I am especially interested in the use of native plants in landscaping. This can provide habitat for wildlife and beautification requiring less maintenance — less irrigation, fertilizer, and pesticide use, while preventing erosion and pollution.

Having clean and safe drinking water is an ongoing concern for all of us. The Mayor and Council have made significant progress over the past two years and I have fully supported these efforts. We currently have five wells up and running and are completely renovating the Seamon Road well, which will be operational in 2022.

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

In addition to being a City Councilman, I am a voice and speech coach and have worked for many years in arts administration. Having run a theater company for many years and having worked in the nonprofit and for-profit sectors, I have developed strong communication skills, a foundation in administration, community building, and fiscal responsibility. Most importantly, I am a problem solver!

I hold an Associate of Arts Degree in Business from Louisburg College (NC), a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English Literature from Berea College (KY), a Masters of Fine Arts Degree in Theatre from Southern Methodist University (TX), and have had additional administrative training via San Francisco’s Support Center for Nonprofit Management. I am a proud union member, belonging to the AFL-CIO for more than thirty years.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

From my Mom - Do what is right and be yourself.

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

I come from a working-class family — my mom was a public health nurse and my dad was a mill worker. Later he worked as an EMT and dispatcher for our local Police Department. We had some very difficult times. However, through it all, I was raised with a strong sense of civic duty, faith, and commitment to community.

I also come from a military family. My only sibling, Retired Colonel James H. Mathews, served two tours of duty in Afghanistan, my father served in the Navy (WWII), and my mother was in the Cadet Nurse Corp (WWII). My Uncle Frank served four tours of duty in Vietnam and was a Bronze Star recipient. Additionally, my sister-in-law is a retired Chief Warrant Officer, and I have a nephew who served as an Army Combat Medic.

I care about our veterans. I am acutely aware of the challenges faced by many of our men and women who serve and have served. I believe they should be supported and honored at every opportunity. I am honored to serve on the Memorial Day Parade Committee, am pleased to help out at the VFW, and am a former board member of Heroes Among Us, serving our veterans and their families.

Editor's note: The candidate's responses have been lightly edited for clarity.