The Mineola-Garden City Rotary Club will be honored to welcome as guest speaker Nassau County Comptroller Elaine Phillips at its lunch meeting on Tuesday, June 14, 12:15 p.m., at Calogero’s Italian Restaurant, 919 Franklin Avenue, Garden City.

Following the first six months in her elected position as comptroller, Elaine Phillips is expected to report on matters that affect Nassau County’s financial health, and how working with the administration and legislature is helping to establish methods to overcome the County’s fiscal challenges.

Voters had elected Elaine Phillips to be the first woman to serve as Nassau County comptroller in November of 2021. A former New York State senator and mayor of the Village of Flower Hill, she is known to be a trailblazer with a long and successful career in finance and public service.

A focused leader, Comptroller Phillips is committed to ensuring that every hard-earned tax dollar that comes from residents is spent properly and that the county government operates efficiently, ethically and with transparency.  As comptroller, she sees herself as the independent protector of the tax payers and residents of Nassau County, maintaining Nassau’s budget and financial operations.

Having been elected by the voters of New York’s 7th Senate District in 2016, Elaine Phillips championed lower taxes and voted to reject billions of dollars in tax increases. Her efforts resulted in record state aid for Long Island schools and additional funding for highways, local roads, libraries, fire companies, veterans and nonprofit groups

As senator, she had authored seven laws — including historic domestic violence legislation that keeps guns away from known abusers — and helped inspire dozens more, including the landmark law to stop sexual harassment in the workplace, doubled tax credits for families with childcare expenses, and protect Nassau County homeowners from hidden property tax hikes.

In Albany, Elaine Phillips had partnered with lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle to protect Long Island’s drinking water supply, improve transparency and accountability and rebuild public trust in government.  As senator, she established a reputation for her hard work, integrity and ability to bring people together.

As a working mother of three daughters, Comptroller Phillips recognized the importance of giving back to community organizations.  She served as PTA president and as a board member of her parish church.  She also served terms as trustee in the Village of Munsey Park, then in the Village of Flower, where she went on to become the first woman to be elected mayor.  While in office, she cut taxes and stabilized the Village’s finances.

Interestingly, Elaine Phillips is a fifth-degree black belt and martial arts instructor.  She currently serves on the Boards of Island Harvest, and SCO Family Services.  A resident of Flower Hill, she and her husband Andy are parents of three daughters, Kate, Hannah and Sarah.

All are welcome to hear Comptroller Phillips talk while enjoying a great Calogero’s lunch of choice (fee, $35 each person).  To reserve, please email Diane Marmann, Club president, at
Diane.Marmann@gmail.com