Candidate Profile: Edward Tolver II
By David Diamond
Nassau News Staff Writer
Edward Tolver II, an independent candidate running for Village of Hempstead Trustee, can sum up his campaign in one word: commitment.
Missing any Hempstead meeting is something Tolver, 43, rarely does. A lifelong resident of Hempstead now making his residence on Eldridge Avenue, Tolver is the president of E.D.T. Flooring Contractors, Inc., but is now ready to throw his hat into the political ring. He said being a village trustee is not only important to him, but also important to the community.
"The mayor is chief executive officer of the village, but trustee has one vote along with the mayor," Tolver said. "The trustee has the same amount of power to decide how our money is being spent, what programs are going to be established, what is going to be cut and what can be fixed, and a whole cabinet of things that make up the village government."
For Tolver, running for office will not be a tremendous change in his normal lifestyle. He has been involved in public affairs for quite some time. A former member of the United States Marine Corps Reserve, Tolver is now the president of the Hempstead branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). The organization has already given Tolver the Long Island Region Community Service Award and the Life Membership Award. He also adds membership of the village's American Legion to his list of credentials.
The issues that face the village are issues that Tolver has been aware of sometimes before everyone else. Late last year, Tolver claims he was the actual person to break the story to News 12 about a Level III sex offender who lived next door to a Hempstead middle school while the public had not been notified.
"I intend to make sure that notification is a priority for the community," Tolver said.
Tolver considers property tax one of the biggest problems in the village.
"One of the things I've talked about is going after sales tax revenue that the Village of Hempstead currently doesn't get," he said.
He has suggested that the village file a lawsuit against the state for its share of sales tax revenue and thinks running on an independent ticket could serve the idea of a lawsuit better.
"The Democrats and Republicans don't want to do it right now because it would interfere with the county budget, which is beneficial to sales tax," he said.
He also said the two parties can't get something done about property tax at risk of stepping on the other party's shoes. The Town of Hempstead is Republican-run while the county has a Democratic majority.
Nassau News Staff Writer
Edward Tolver II, an independent candidate running for Village of Hempstead Trustee, can sum up his campaign in one word: commitment.
Missing any Hempstead meeting is something Tolver, 43, rarely does. A lifelong resident of Hempstead now making his residence on Eldridge Avenue, Tolver is the president of E.D.T. Flooring Contractors, Inc., but is now ready to throw his hat into the political ring. He said being a village trustee is not only important to him, but also important to the community.
"The mayor is chief executive officer of the village, but trustee has one vote along with the mayor," Tolver said. "The trustee has the same amount of power to decide how our money is being spent, what programs are going to be established, what is going to be cut and what can be fixed, and a whole cabinet of things that make up the village government."
For Tolver, running for office will not be a tremendous change in his normal lifestyle. He has been involved in public affairs for quite some time. A former member of the United States Marine Corps Reserve, Tolver is now the president of the Hempstead branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). The organization has already given Tolver the Long Island Region Community Service Award and the Life Membership Award. He also adds membership of the village's American Legion to his list of credentials.
The issues that face the village are issues that Tolver has been aware of sometimes before everyone else. Late last year, Tolver claims he was the actual person to break the story to News 12 about a Level III sex offender who lived next door to a Hempstead middle school while the public had not been notified.
"I intend to make sure that notification is a priority for the community," Tolver said.
Tolver considers property tax one of the biggest problems in the village.
"One of the things I've talked about is going after sales tax revenue that the Village of Hempstead currently doesn't get," he said.
He has suggested that the village file a lawsuit against the state for its share of sales tax revenue and thinks running on an independent ticket could serve the idea of a lawsuit better.
"The Democrats and Republicans don't want to do it right now because it would interfere with the county budget, which is beneficial to sales tax," he said.
He also said the two parties can't get something done about property tax at risk of stepping on the other party's shoes. The Town of Hempstead is Republican-run while the county has a Democratic majority.
