It's About Community!

Gaitley Stevenson-Mathews
Candidate for Glen Cove
City Council

In 2017, on the urging of neighbors, friends, and concerned citizens, I stepped up to the plate and ran for Glen Cove City Council. Ultimately, we lost our bid, but we made significant strides.  While I lost the election by 35 votes, I was the 2nd highest vote-getter among the six Democratic candidates, gained major support across the city, and I was honored to receive support from people of all walks of life representing the rich heritage of our city.

In the past year as your City Cuncilman I have remained engaged in the community and my resolve to serve the people of Glen Cove is stronger than ever. Additionally, the Friends of Gaitley Committee has remained active and has organized several events to encourage support and raise funds for the campaign. And the big news is - as of February 13th, I was honored to officially receive the Democratic Nomination for City Council of Glen Cove. Now the work begins in earnest.

To stay informed about my campaign and learn more about where I stand on issues, please follow me on Facebook and Instagram and visit our official campaign website.

In addition to strong communication skills, I have past experience in administration, community building, and fiscal responsibility. I bring a willingness to listen. We are stronger together, we can solve problems better together. Whether it is in regards to finances, infrastructure, education, transportation, development, the environment, the arts, or culture, it has to begin and end with the community.

I truly appreciate and am humbled by your support as I run for re-election to continue to make a difference in our great city. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Memorial Day

Thank you to all of those who serve, have served, or have paid the ultimate sacrifice for this country!

 

Memory and Tribute

 

Memorial Day. I’ll never forget, as a young boy, hearing my family talk about our next door neighbor's son, who was killed during the Vietnam War. I must have been five or six at the time. I can just see his picture, in his dress army uniform, sitting on top of the neighbor's console TV in their living room.

Of course, being so young, I didn’t understand it all, but the sense of overwhelming sadness coupled with pride left a lasting impression on me. Like so many boys who grew up in the 60’s and 70s, I knew my plans for the future might very likely take a different turn after high school, with being sent off to war via the draft. I can’t say I thought about it always, but it certainly was an underlying “humm” in one’s daily life. Of course this changed in 1975 with the end of the Vietnam War. While I have never served in the armed service, I recognize and honor those who have chosen to serve and especially those individuals who have made the ultimate sacrifice. These men and women protect our freedom so that the rest of us can live out the dream outlined in our Declaration of Independence - the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. They’re not just words and they come at a cost.

This Memorial Day weekend, I say thank you to all veterans, and all who currently serve our nation. I extend heartfelt gratitude to all who paid the ultimate price and to the families who have lost loved ones in service to our country. While I am fortunate not to have lost loved ones in my immediate family due to war, here are the heroes in my family who have served.
 

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1st Image: My dad. James Hunter Mathews Sr., with his little brother, Frank Mathews, on his knee. Dad served in the Navy during WWII and Uncle Frank later served during the Vietnam War. 2nd Image: My mom. Jean Pearsall Gaitley Mathews. Mom served in the Cadet Nurse Corps. during WWII and later worked in public health. 3rd Image: My father-in-law, Wilbert Stevenson. Wil served in the Army during WWII and was stationed in Egypt for part of the war. 4th Image: My brother, Retired Colonel James Hunter Mathews Jr,. and a young Afghan boy. I'm so proud of my brother who served two tours of duty in Afghanistan.
 

Mom and Dad passed away in 1997 and my Uncle Frank in 1998, but my father-in-law, Wil, and my brother, Hunter, are alive and well. My gratitude to all who have served and serve and my condolences to the families and friends who have lost loved ones in the armed forces. It is important that we remember and honor these people. Their service must never be forgotten. It is because of them that we enjoy our freedom.
Thank you.