Farmingdale's Anthony Macagnone, the carpenter and family man who made his debut in politics with a run against State Senator Kemp Hannon last year, is once again trying to unseat an incumbent Republican, this time on the Oyster Bay Town Board.

Macagnone, a Democrat, lost his challenge against Hannon, but earned a surprising number of votes, considering a dramatic lack of funds. His message about the need to get back the American Dream for working people, spread through newspaper articles and word of mouth, seemed to reach many, as shown by his garnering 36 percent of the vote.

The challenger announced his candidacy for the Republican-held town board a few weeks ago. Several town board seats are expected to be contested in the at-large election to take place in November, as the 4-year terms of Councilmembers Joseph Muscarella, Anthony Altimari and Martin Massell are expiring. Also expiring is the two-year term of Town Supervisor John Venditto, the 2-year term of Town Clerk Fanny Corsentino, and the 4-year term of Receiver of Taxes John O'Leary.

Macagnone was not only raised in Farmingdale, he is raising two children here, he has been a carpenter for the past 17 years and is active in the labor movement through his membership with the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America.

In an interview this week, Macagnone said he decided to run because he wants to make changes in the Town of Oyster Bay that will help citizens who are struggling to improve the quality of life for their families here, and that he has been encouraged by renewed support from the Nassau County Democratic Party. Under the party's new chairman, Assemblyman Thomas DiNapoli, Macagnone attested, the county's Democrats have been re-energized. And with the appointment of an executive director, Darren Bloch, communication and support for candidates has improved, Macagnone noted.

Several ranking Democrats, including DiNapoli, Glen Cove Mayor Thomas Suozzi, and Assemblyman David Sidikman, were apparently quite impressed with the ideas Macagnone expressed during last year's campaign, and the way he presented himself. This also led in part to his candidacy for town board this year, because it influenced the party's leaders to approach him and ask him to run. "I guess people talked to them about me, and they like the way people talked to them about me. I believe in helping the working men and women," Macagnone said. "You never see a telethon for working men and women, but we're struggling. I know myself. My wife's trying to go back to college, and it's difficult trying to survive in the Town of Oyster Bay on one salary."

If elected, Macagnone promised to be an advocate for town residents regarding the need for good paying jobs, affordable health care, retirement with dignity, and preservation of the environment. His campaign platform also includes a call for responsible use of open lands, responsible use of finances and taxes, and "putting people before politics."

Macagnone specifically cited the current budget deficit during a national economic boom, and the selling of open spaces to close budget gaps, as areas that need reform in the town. He said a two-party system would make the government more accountable to its people.

"Why is Oyster Bay missing the boat on the stock market? Why is a town like North Hempstead, and the City of Glen Cove, doing so well. And not the neighboring town - Oyster Bay. I don't have the answer," he said. "No one's given it to us. Maybe we need some checks and balances. We definitely need a two party system in Oyster Bay."

Macagnone added that he wants people to get excited about his campaign, and that he is seeking volunteers to work on it. He said that he wants to "see all the housewives, construction workers, business owners, and accountants" getting involved in the Democratic party and their government.

"There's nothing worse than having to have hot dogs and macaroni and cheese a couple of nights a week, or struggling to pay the LIPA bill," he said. "I want people who know that feeling."

Bloch, the executive director of the Nassau Democrats, voiced support for the candidate when reached this week.

"We're very excited for Tony running for office. He's been a leader in the labor movement, and we welcome that type of activism and determination to our party," he said, adding that DiNapoli and the rest of the party are excited to see labor leaders such as Macagnone getting involved with the party. "Labor has obviously been very involved with Democratic politics for a long time now, but to see folks from the labor movement coming in and actually running as candidates on their own rights, I think, is something we're excited about."

The party has already planned to help Macagnone organize his campaign, and to provide manpower through volunteers and campaign staff, as well as publicity materials.They also will include him in a number of party publicity materials that the county Democrats plan to create for the upcoming town board and county legislature elections.

"He's a solid candidate. He's a hard worker. He understands the issues very well. He understands the issues of working families on Long Island and around the state very well," Bloch added. "He presents his views on those issues, I think, as well as anyone that we have out there."

The Democratic Party's other candidates are: Kevin Langberg of Plainview, for Town Supervisor; Bonnie Eisler of Woodbury and Francis Goban of Hicksville for Town Board; Martha Murray Offerman of Bayville for Town Clerk; and James Stefanich of Syosset for Town Receiver of Taxes. A full list of candidates from all parties is expected to be released by the Nassau County Board of Elections next week.