On Tuesday, residents of the 12th Assembly District elected Republican Joseph Saladino to be their representative in the Assembly. Saladino succeeds former Assemblyman Steve Labriola, who vacated the seat in January after being elected to the town clerk's office in the Town of Oyster Bay. Massapequan Saladino, who received 3,501 votes, defeated William Funk, also of Massapequa, who received 1,689.

Upon announcing his candidacy, Saladino said he feels he was qualified for the position due to the long list of work he's done in many organizations based in the communities throughout the 12th District. Among the organizations in which Saladino has been involved is the Massapequa Kiwanis Club, the Town of Oyster Bay Youth Board, the Sons of Italy and the Massapequa Historical Society.

Saladino said that he has some specific goals for the district, including stopping the spiraling property taxes, protecting the environment and protecting children's education, as well as children in general. A lifelong outdoorsman and an avid fisherman, he also has many plans to protect the environment, particularly the Great South Bay, its estuaries and the fish populations that live there.

In a previous interview, Saladino said he looks forward to representing the residents of the 12th Assembly District, noting that "this district is in my DNA.

"There are wonderful people in this community and I'm tremendously honored to have the opportunity to serve them," he said.

Saladino's position in the Assembly is effective immediately. The 12th AD includes the communities (or parts of) Farmingdale, the Massapequas, Plainedge, Island Trees, North Wantagh and Seaford.