Town of Oyster Bay Councilman Anthony Macagnone announced at a Monday press conference that he changed his party registration and became a Republican and a member of the Nassau County Republican Committee. The Republicans now hold a six to one majority on the Oyster Bay Town Board.

Macagnone, elected to the Town of Oyster Bay Board as a Democrat in November 1999, has been contemplating this change for some time and gave it a great deal of thought. "In the past year and a half that I have been on the Town Board, I discovered through votes and dialog that I have a lot more in common with Supervisor John Venditto and the Republican members of the board than the Democrats," explained Macagnone. "It seems that to Supervisor Venditto and the rest of the Board, the interest of working people are of utmost importance... Supervisor Venditto taught me to vote my conscience and stay true and back up working families the best that I can."

At the press conference, Venditto stated that he was happy to welcome Macagnone aboard. "Councilman Macagnone is a very principled individual," said Venditto. "He was elected to the town board as a Democrat, which is not a common thing in the Town of Oyster Bay. After a relatively short amount of time, he had the opportunity to assess everything that is going on in the town. After about a year of taking stock, he came to the realization that the Republican government in the town is getting things done. He has, time and time again, shown his willingness to stand with us and put politics aside and do the right thing by the residents of the Town of Oyster Bay."

This decision by Councilman Macagnone leaves Town of Oyster Bay Councilwoman Bonnie Eisler as the lone Democrat. Eisler and Macagnone, although once members of the same political party, were known to disagree on many issues. "I don't think [Macagnone's decision] is going to make a major difference to the people in the Town of Oyster Bay," said Eisler. "His major core constituents have always been his union members and that has been his agenda from the start. There was not a lot of teamwork between us on the board and more often than not he was the one attacking me even more so than my Republican colleagues, whom I have been able to get things done with."

While working on the Town of Oyster Bay's last budget, Macagnone felt major resentment from his Democratic colleagues and the party in general. This resentment was a major factor in his decision to join the Republicans. "When I got opposition from members of my party and members of the Democratic team because I voted [one way on a certain budget item], it really made me question if I belonged with these people... Every time I voted against my Democratic councilperson, I got flack from the party because we are not working in unison - maybe she should be getting the flack not me."

Eisler does not plan to back down, but plans to represent the Democrats loud and strong. "I felt like I was the only Democrat there for a long time so this decision does not change anything for me," she said. "I have always been very outspoken and looking out for the people's pocketbooks and their environmental issues and I still plan to carry out the same... It is a shame that [Macagnone] could not hack it as a Democrat because I think one of the best things that happened for the people in the town of Oyster Bay is two party government."

Nassau County Republican Chairman Joseph N. Mondello stated that he was proud to introduce Macagnone as a Republican. "I am so delighted that he has [changed parties] because he is a gentleman that I have heard nothing but good about since he has been on the Oyster Bay Town Board," said Mondello. "His peers and fellow councilmembers have indicated to me that he is a fine human being that is interested in doing the right thing for working families and for working people and the kind of people that the Republican party in Nassau County identifies with."

Although his party affiliation will be changing, Macagnone's issues will remain the same and he will still help the working families survive in the Town of Oyster Bay. He plans to work with his fellow Republican councilmembers to get things done for the residents of the town. Macagnone and I "were getting things done when we were on the opposite side of the aisle," said Venditto, "and now that he is a Republican, we are going to get a lot of nice things done for the residents."