John McGrath once more found himself on the short end of an election night Tuesday, this time having an unsuccessful bid to become the commissioner of the Albertson Water District.
“Somebody asked me to run I sad ‘you got to be kidding me’,” McGrath said Wednesday in a telephone conversation.
The former Mineola Board of Education trustee ended up losing to incumbent Howard Abbondondelo by a tally of 377-26. Abbondondelo has served as commissioner for the past 6 years and received a new 3-year term.
McGrath had been ousted from the Mineola Board of Education in the 2012 vote by newcomer Artie Barnett.
McGrath ran on a platform that would be familiar to many school district voters, of consolidation.
“My position was we don’t need a small Albertson Water District,” McGrath said, suggesting to consolidate with another district such as East Williston, Williston Park, Roslyn, or Mineola.
“These small districts are really not cost effective,” McGrath said. “It’s really the same message that I had with the school district.”
The position pays $80 per diem, with a series of meetings every other month. An Albertson Waster District employee estimated that there are about 26 meetings per year, which would equate to about $3,800 per year.
McGrath, an attorney, laughed “I’m pretty sure I’m better off.”
