By Nelson A. King
A Vincentian running as an
independent candidate for the
office of Trustee in the Incorporated
Village of Hempstead,
Nassau County, Long Is. has
described as “a surreal experience”
getting on the ballot.
“Starting from day one, when
I announced my candidacy, all
the way to getting on the actual
ballot — Row C last week
Tuesday — proved to me that
hard work pays off,” Rosanne
“Rosie” Small-Morgan, a senior
advocate for the elderly, blind,
disabled and underserved population,
told Caribbean Life on
Tuesday.
“I am extremely proud that
I stuck to my guns, and I am
the only independent woman
candidate for trustee,” added
Small-Morgan, who is also a
senior consumer advocate,
author, mentor, motivational
speaker, radio and talk show
host, with a weekly newspaper
advice column. “I want the residents
of Hempstead to know
that I am here to represent them
with integrity, transparency and
compassion.
“So, I stand proudly under
my party’s name, ‘Transparency
for Hempstead,’” she continued.
“Please remember to Vote Row C
for Rosie. Vote Row C first, then
pick your other three candidates
on March 16.
“There’s still so much to do
between now and March 16, but
I will continue to go door to
door to introduce myself to my
fellow residents, sharing with
them my vision for the village,”
said Small-Morgan, also works
in the utility industry, where she
manages Nassau County and the
Rockaways in Queens.
She said she will like to see
more mentorship and internship
programs for children, as well as
more education for seniors on
available programs for them.
“I want to step up our beautification
Caribbean L 6 ife, MARCH 12-18, 2021
program here in Hempstead,
along with working with
the authorities and civic associations
to improve our safety
and lowering the crime,” Small-
Morgan said. “These are just
small snippets of what I would
like to bring to the village.”
There are four Trustees in the
Incorporated Village of Hempstead
that has a population of
about 55,000 residents, according
to the United States Census
.W
ith a heavy concentration
of Caribbean Americans, Hempstead
is predominantly African
American (Blacks) and Latinos.
There is also a small population
of whites and Asians.
Small-Morgan, 51 — who
moved with her family to Hempstead
in October 1994 after
residing in Queens Village —
is a wife and a “proud mother
of two gifted children,” one of
whom has autism.
The candidate, who migrated
from St. Vincent and the Grenadines
in 1988, is reportedly the
first Caribbean-born woman to
seek the office of Trustee in the
Incorporated Village of Hempstead.
She said she had been “sitting
on this announcement for a
couple of weeks, going back and
Rosanne “Rosie” Small-Morgan. Zoe Morgan
forth with God,” before declaring
her candidacy.
“Literally, if He didn’t speak
to my heart, I wouldn’t do this,”
she said. “I am confident that,
with my many years of public
service, along with the many
connections that I’ve made networking
personally and professionally,
I can help enhance and
bring positive changes to the
Inc. Village of Hempstead.
Vincentian gets on ballot for
Hempstead Trustee vote