Meet The Candidates: John Mancusi Runs For Glen Cove City 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.

Republican John "Jack" Mancusi is vying for a seat on Glen Cove's City Council after serving the city as a law enforcement officer for 25 years. The retired police sergeant, 56, is now working as a security consultant and, according to his campaign website, wants to use his "career skills to engage and evaluate community needs" and "help establish a master plan for the city that makes sense to all."

You can learn more about Mancusi below, and by clicking here.

Why are you seeking elective office?

My 25-year career as a police officer in Glen Cove was an amazing experience. Glen Cove was a special place to work and I formed deep bonds with the residents of the city. I learned to become a problem solver and dealt with ALL the demographics of the city: young and old, rich and poor, black and white, and everything in between.

Becoming a City Councilman will allow me to continue my service to the residents and repay a debt that I owe them. The skills I acquired throughout my career will be put to great use in Glen Cove City Hall.

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

Financial mismanagement. The Current administration raised taxes by almost 8% during a pandemic, and cut services. They are standing idly by as a developer (RXR) plans to develop more apartments than their original plan called for, then pass the cost of these apartments on to taxpayers.

A common chorus heard at the city council meetings (sung by the mayor and his combative city attorney) is, "Well you'll just have to go ahead and sue the city." I will put an end to these wasteful and unfair practices as a city councilman.

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

I am the only retired police officer to run for office since the late 1980s. My experience as a police officer has taught me critical skills that are necessary to govern.

As an officer responding to calls you must have empathy, patience, and understanding. You must gain trust, consensus build, and solve problems while treating people with respect. These are the same skills needed to govern, except they need to be applied citywide as opposed to the personal interactions so typical of a police response. I am the right person for this job.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)?

I believe the current slate of city council members are all good people, but lack either the will or the ability to tackle Glen Cove's larger more systemic problems such as a lack of planning and fiscal mismanagement.

The city is millions of dollars in debt with no plan to pay down this debt. The city just borrowed over 8 million dollars for capital upgrades but there was no associated maintenance budget. I will advocate for forward-looking, realistic budget practices.

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

I believe their response was poor. When city meetings migrated online, the current administration became very inaccessible. They were not very responsive to the residents' needs.

Upon reopening, the elderly were forced to wait outside in the weather when there was ample room inside for safe distancing and other protective practices. Upon full reopening, getting responses from the city council remained difficult.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

My platform involves a top to bottom analysis of how Glen Cove is managed. The city is a multi-headed beast, with the mayor and city council in the center. Other quasi-governmental agencies also have roles in guiding the city. The Planning Board, Zoning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, and the Industrial Development Agency are a few.

These agencies are largely staffed by appointees unaccountable to the taxpayers they serve. I plan to help adopt a master plan for Glen Cove and to improve communication between these agencies so they work together more efficiently.

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

For 25 years I worked under pressure. I supervised a platoon of police officers and oversaw incidents such as auto accidents, crime scenes, domestic incidents, ambulance calls, etc. Many of these incidents involved serious injuries and sometimes loss of life. I was awarded many commendations for the professional way in which I handled these jobs and I have an unblemished record of police service. This coolness under pressure combined with my people skills will make the difficult job of governing a bit easier for me.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

The true measure of a man's character is how he treats people who can do nothing for him. Be strong and confident, but be humble and respectful.

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

I am willing and able to work very hard for them to improve conditions in Glen Cove and to be responsive to their needs. I will be honest. If I cannot help them, I will tell them why. No BS.

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