Village of Hempstead - Government (original) (raw)

Elected Officials

Mayor James A. Garner

Hempstead Village Mayor James A. Garner became Long Island’s first African-American Mayor when he was elected in 1989. Prior to that he served one term on the Hempstead Village Board of Trustees.

During his tenure, Mayor Garner has been instrumental in strengthening the Hempstead community on both social and economic fronts. He has led the way in providing affordable housing opportunities for area residents, while working tirelessly to revitalize the village’s downtown area.

Construction of a new bus terminal, much-needed senior citizen housing initiatives and the redevelopment of dozens of commercial buildings and several large retail properties are some of the major economic and community development projects already completed or soon-to-be finished in the incorporated village. To date, under Mayor Garner’s leadership, more than $250 million has been reinvested in Hempstead Village.

Also attentive to the young members of the community, he has established a Police Activity League, Drug Assistance Resistance Education (DARE) program and just recently, created a Boys and Girls Club, and implemented the Weed and Seed initiative.

Proud to have served his country in Vietnam, Mayor Garner holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Adelphi University. He was recently awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree of Civil Law from Molloy College. Prior to entering government service, he established a successful pest control company that his family still owns and operates today. His business acumen led to his appointment as a delegate to the 1986 White House Conference on Small Business.

Deeply involved in community affairs, Mayor Garner has been an active member of numerous organizations including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), both the United States and New York State Conference of Mayors, the Town of Hempstead Minority Advisory Council, One Hundred Black Men of Nassau/Suffolk and American Legion Post 1488. He is also a member of the same fraternity as the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.-- Alpha Phi Alpha.

Mayor Garner has been honored by many groups and organizations for his tireless efforts and genuine commitment to a variety of good causes. Some awards include National Minority Businessman of the Year, the Hofstra for Hempstead/Hempstead for Hofstra Unispan Award, Jackson Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church’s Man of the Year, Public Servant of the Year Award from the Hempstead Chamber of Commerce, Long Island Black History Committee’s Man of the Year and the Black Tennis & Sport Foundation’s Living the Dream Award.

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