The 18th County Legislative District includes Bayville, Centre Island, Glen Cove, Glen Head, Lattingtown, Laurel Hollow, Old Brookville, Oyster Bay, Sea Cliff, part of Syosset and Upper Brookville.

Paul Annunziato is the Republican party candidate for legislator in the 18th District, a position currently held by Democrat Brian Muellers. Mr. Annunziato stresses that while he is a Republican, having been brought up with "strong Republican traits such as fiscal conservatism," he considers among his most effective qualities his independence and willingness to "buck" his own party. He said he comes to this race with no strings attached and indebted to no one.

The major issues in the race, he feels, fall under two categories; one being the same regardless of the local community in question, the other being specific to a "backyard." He said the number one issue and problem facing the residents of the entire North Shore is taxes, and how people can continue to afford to live here if taxes keep going up.

Specific to Glen Cove, he states key issues include the economy, environment, schools and safety. "The economic viability of Glen Cove is of top importance, with the environmental aspects of the waterfront project, AvalonBay, commerce and downtown revitalization all tied in. Glen Cove includes almost one third of the constituents of the 18th legislative district," he said. "I plan to work with the mayor and city council and play an active role in the city's future." He cites his work on the Underhill property in Jericho as testimony to the ability of local, county, state and federal governments working in partnership to achieve a success story.

Mr. Annunziato believes his background and experience in and knowledge of business and finance are among his strongest assets. He holds a BS in business management and is a graduate of the International Business and European Community Program from Sheffield Polytechnic Institute in Sheffield, England and is currently enrolled with the College for Financial Planning to obtain CFP designation. He presently holds CFM (Certified Financial Manager) designation.

"I understand finance and finance is a major issue in the county," Mr Annunziato states. He is currently a vice president for a large financial advisory institution where he and his team manage more than $100 million for individuals and corporations.

Mr. Annunziato has always been active in civic, charitable and political causes, currently serving on the board or as a member of organizations such as the Locust Valley Civic Association, United Civic Associations of North Oyster Bay, Order Sons Of Italy Grand Lodge Foundation, the Nassau County Open Space and Parks Committee and Garden City Chamber of Commerce. He said his charitable causes include the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, Chamber Players International and Gateway Youth Outreach.

Mr. Annunziato, born and raised in Elmont, currently lives in Mill Neck with his wife Heather, and three children, Julia, 6, Ben, 4 and Ryan, 16 months.

"I care," he said. "I want to make a difference...be one of those who leave the world better than when I came into it."

The Democratic candidate for legislator in the 18th Legislative District, Diane Yatauro is a 20-year resident of Glen Cove. As a former resident of Port Washington, she knows the importance of a viable and vibrant waterfront district and has high praise for the success Mayor Mary Ann Holzkamp and former Mayor Tom Suozzi have had in bringing the Glen Cove waterfront to the place it is today and will be tomorrow. "When I moved into the city 20 years ago and saw Captain's Cove and Li Tungsten, the area was cordoned off with yellow caution tape and skull and crossbones signs. I watched it sadly for years until the Suozzi administration started the cleanup."

Ms. Yatauro attended Iona College and is a former second vice president of Chase Manhattan Bank, a position she left to raise her family. Most recently she has worked with her husband in his company, Cass Communications, before devoting herself full-time to preparing to run for the legislature.

Always community and civic-minded, Ms. Yatauro serves as vice president of the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Boys and Girls Club, is a board member with Portledge School and has taught religion at St. Rocco's in Glen Cove for 12 years. As VP of the Boys and Girls Club, she spearheaded fundraising efforts to acquire a new building for the club's expanding activities.

Ms. Yatauro got her feet wet in politics 10 years ago when Tom Suozzi was first running for mayor. "I liked what I heard, so I walked into his campaign headquarters and was hooked!"

She plans to continue much of what Brian Muellers has been doing in the legislative seat. "The Open Space Commission is wonderful; 5 percent of the profit from county buildings being sold goes to the Open Space Commission. That's just one example of agencies working together for the greater good."

She said she understands that every neighborhood has its own unique problems to be addressed. "Strange as it sounds, in Sea Cliff, it's sewers. It costs commercial establishments an excessive amount of money to be pumping out their buildings all the time. In Jericho, there is inadequate senior housing."

In Glen Cove, Ms. Yatauro is fully supportive of the work the present administration is doing. "I see what Mayor Holzkamp has done so far and I share her vision of the future...I have a stake in Glen Cove. I live here with my husband Bernie and our two children, Michael, 18 and Noelle, who is 8. I want to be able to get my hair cut here, buy shoes for the children, have lunch, and of course, window shop in London Jewelers. I don't want to have to leave town for these things."

One of the county's biggest problems, Ms. Yatauro states, is the environment. She stressed that this will be a strong focus for her as a legislator. "We haven't taken care of our environment as well as we should have. I'm glad to see how that has been changing, and want to see it continue." Ms. Yatauro sees the environment as an issue all areas of the 18th Legislative District need to focus on. "Overdevelopment and not re-using brownfields, that's got to change as it's changed in Glen Cove," she says.

She also said she believes in the way the Democratic government is doing business in Nassau County, feels the county is finally on the right track again, and looks forward to long term economic growth. "I'm proud of the Democrats moving the county forward and want to be an integral part of that. I think it's important to remember who has been moving things forward."