Russell Gardens voters will head to the polls Tuesday, June 16, to choose a village justice and two trustees in a contested election that has drawn three candidates, including the only incumbent trustee seeking reelection and two challengers
Village Justice Edward Goodman is runnig for another four-year term and is facing Ronnie Shatzkamer, an associate justice in the Village of Manorhaven and the former longtime village administrator in Flower Hill.
For the two open trustee seats, Deputy Mayor Lawrence Chaleff is seeking reelection, while challengers Robin Sherman and Qingtao “Shannon” Zhou are also on the ballot. Current Trustee Matthew Ellis is not seeking reelection.
Edward Goodman for Village Justice
Goodman, 56, has served as village justice since 2020 after previously working as the village prosecutor from 2008 to 2019. A Russell Gardens resident for 26 years, Goodman is a practicing attorney in New York and New Jersey whose private practice focuses on personal injury and medical malpractice litigation.
Goodman initially expressed hesitation about answering some interview questions because judicial candidates are bound by ethics rules that limit what judges may publicly discuss during campaigns.
When asked later about his approach to serving on the bench, Goodman said his years of community involvement have forged his perspective on public service.
“The thing I feel shaped my purpose the most is just being able to give back to the community and serving the community,” Goodman said. “That’s why I run for these positions and fulfill these positions, because I enjoy giving back to the community.”
Asked what accomplishment he is most proud of as village justice, Goodman said his focus has been on fairness and efficiency in the courtroom.
“I would say it’s giving the people who come before me a chance to be heard, have their voice heard by the court, and to accomplish that with both efficiency and justice, and not waste people’s time,” he said.
Source: LI Press
