This week, the Hicksville Illustrated News is again presenting profiles of candidates running for Oyster Bay Town Councilman/ Councilwoman. There are three councilman positions up for election this year. This is an at-large election, meaning the top three vote-getters out of all the candidates will win a seat on the town board. The two candidates profiled this week are not only running against each other; they are running against every other candidate as well.

As Joseph Muscarella makes a bid for re-election to the Oyster Bay Town Board, he is confident that his consistent responsiveness to local communities will earn the support of voters.

"After four years of continuously being with people, and listening to their concerns and issues and taking care of their problems, I feel very confident that I will continue to do the best I can to win the election and continue to serve the people," he said in a recent interview.

By making himself available to constituents at parks and public events, as well as through walking door-to-door, Muscarella said he has been a true servant to the public - and has enjoyed doing so.

"I happen to like people," said the councilman, who comes from a large family that is steeped in public service and includes Nassau County Legislator Vincent Muscarella, his brother. "I was always taught to give back to the community."

Muscarella noted that he has helped residents with numerous matters - from mending broken curbs, to routing out the adult entertainment industry, to fighting for the cleanup of the Liberty Industrial hazardous waste site in Farmingdale.

Although Democratic challengers have criticized the town board for allowing a $30 million deficit, Muscarella asserted that the board has plugged that budget gap, and said that the current administration has done "an outstanding job" under the leadership of Supervisor Venditto. He cited such accomplishments as keeping the taxes down to the 1989 level, renovations of parks and beaches, and programs to protect the environment. These, he said, have included municipal control of both the north and south shores, dune stabilization, as well as the Stop Throwing Out Pollutants (STOP) waste management project.

Muscarella feels the current administration's pro-active way of governing is evidenced by the Town of Oyster Bay's healthy real estate market. "It's a great town. It's one of the best places to live in the country. The prices of houses are soaring, have gone up tremendously over the last year, and have steadily," he said. "A lot of people are taking advantage of that, and moving into the Town of Oyster Bay."

He added that the board has enabled senior citizens to stay in the town by creating "S-2" senior housing development zones. Although some say the town has allowed too many senior housing complexes, and that this is one source of overdevelopment, Muscarella supports the concept.

"Four years ago, when I came onto the town board, there were some feelings that maybe S-2 wasn't the best thing. And, I told everybody it is the best thing, because the seniors are our greatest asset," he said.

"When you keep your parents here, and your grandparents here, that only enhances the family values. And, we should take care of our parents, because they built this great country. Some of the people had their reservations about senior housing, and I was for it from day one. And, actually it's probably one of the best things the town board has done and expanded," he added. "And now people realize that it's not housing for our seniors, it's a way of life for our seniors - and the demand is growing every day." He added that the town is committed to thoroughly evaluating every proposal for a senior housing complex, and approving only those that are environmentally feasible.

As for his political opponents' assertions that the town needs a Master Plan in order to prevent overdevelopment, Muscarella said that the board has not pursued one because it would take away its flexibility in zoning decisions. "We update the code every day," he said, noting that the town now has the ability to reject development proposals that threaten the area's suburban quality, but that a Master Plan could restrict that jurisdiction.

Muscarella is an independent insurance agent, and he and his wife have three young children. His community activities include service as director of the Arthritis Foundation, past president of the Independent Insurance Agents of Nassau County, soccer and softball coach, and a member of PTA, the Pastoral Council of St. James Church, Seaford, and Knights of Columbus.

There are several major goals he would like to achieve if re-elected. Firstly, he wants to secure a full cleanup of the Liberty Site in Farmingdale, something for which the local community has been fighting for years. The issue is close to home for the councilman, a resident of North Massapequa with children in the Farmingdale School District.

In addition, he aims to use his business background to introduce more advanced information technology to the operations of the Town of Oyster Bay. Muscarella would also like to continue to expand and renovate parks, recreational facilities, and other services for children, as well as protect the environment. "I don't want the town to be one of the most desirable places to live. I want it to be the most desirable place to live - the best place in the country, and we can do it," he said.