Vocal Civic Leader To Be Replaced on Water Board

After 16 years on the , Marianna Wohlgemuth is now a holdover on the board until she is replaced. She says this is because of her "lack of support" of Supervisor .

“No matter where I go I am always advocating for my community, that’s what I do,” said Wohlgemuth, president of the Lakeville Estates Civic Association. “I don’t have a job with the town, I never look for any money, and I don’t get paid for this; I’m a volunteer. So for [Kaiman] to take this vindictive action, I’m just overwhelmed.”

While Wohlgemuth has criticized the Kaiman administration for issues like the Clinton G. Martin park audit, the Schumacher house and the Roslyn County Country Club, she said it has never been personal.

“I just don’t support some of the decisions that the current administration has made when it is concerning New Hyde Park,” Wohlgemuth said. “It’s not about Mr. Kaiman; it’s never been about him. He should know that. I don’t care whether it’s him or it’s anyone else up there. I am going to act the same way, that’s what I do.”

Because of this, Wohlgemuth believes she is getting the boot.

“Now [Kaiman] has come out and pretty much said, ‘You can’t represent me because you have been opposing me,’ [but] he gave me things to oppose him on,” she said.

Over her years of service on the water board, she has refunded money to the water authority when there was too much money one year, has kept rates stable and has never missed a meeting.

“I work my life around it,” she said. “I’m very devoted and I do it because I’m hoping I can make a difference in this world.”

Wohlgemuth doesn't think she needs to change her moral code.

“When I moved here in 1982 I felt that I wanted to make [New Hyde Park] as good a place as it could be, period” Wohlgemuth said.  “I’m a good board member and they’re going to miss me.”

The Town of North Hempstead did not respond before press time.