In an effort to rally local Democrats, Anthony Macagnone, the newly elected Town of Oyster Bay Councilman from Farmingdale, will hold a party gathering next week in the local community.

Anthony Macagnone, the newly elected Town of Oyster Bay Councilman from Farmingdale, is looking to mobilize local Democrats.

The meeting will take place on Sunday, March 5 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Hall at 635 South Main Street, Farmingdale, and is being geared to enliven Farmingdale's traditionally quiet Democrats.

The event, which follows November elections that saw Democrats take control of the Nassau County Legislature and win several town seats, is also aimed at mobilizing local party members for future elections. "We have some momentum now," Macagnone said this week. "I'd like to keep it going."

Although Farmingdale has traditionally been dominated by Republican politics, Macagnone noted that he was surprised to learn that there are some 5,000 Democrats residing in the local area. Asked why Democrats have been relatively unheard in Farmingdale in recent years, Macagnone said the party has not had much leadership locally, but that he hopes to change that. As Farmingdale's new voice on the town board, he noted that he plans to address the concerns of local residents.

"They'll have my phone number. They'll know who to come to. When they need some help, I'll be right there," Macagnone said.

A large part of the meeting will be a question and answer period, because, Macagnone said, he wants to spark discussion of issues concerning local residents.

"I want to meet them. I want to hear their concerns. I want to hear what they want for the future," he said. "Too many times, I think, people have been told what they want to hear. I want to hear what they have to say." Topics that may be explored include quality of life issues, such as the desire for better services and lower taxes.

During his election campaign, Macagnone, a husband and father of two, as well as union leader, had focused on such issues as the preservation of open land, fiscal responsibility, and the need to redevelop industrial sites such as the Liberty Hazardous Waste Site in South Farmingdale.

Councilwoman Bonnie Eisler of Woodbury, another Democrat who was elected to the traditionally Republican-held Oyster Bay Town Board in November, will help Macagnone lead the discussion. In addition, a representative from the Al Gore presidential campaign may attend the gathering, as it will take place two days before the New York Democratic Presidential Primary.