50. Rosalie Hanson

As the founder of Long Island Citizens Against Redundant Expenditures (LI CARE), Rosalie Hanson led the struggle against the exorbitantly high taxes in the Gordon Heights Fire District of Brookhaven Town, whose residents reportedly paid the highest rates on LI. It was a long, uphill battle that ultimately paved the way for the passage of the “New N.Y. Government Reorganization and Citizen Empowerment Act,” which grants taxpayers the ability to dissolve or consolidate layers of local government and special taxing districts. Her non-partisan group successfully petitioned for the fire district’s dissolution, and as a result cut their property taxes. Hanson is always on fire when it comes to civic responsibility. She’s also president of the Robert S. Still Republican Club, and a trustee on the board of Long Islanders for Educational Reform, which addresses the issues of escalating school taxes and preserving quality education. She takes her citizenship seriously.