Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto will head the Republican slate in the Town of Oyster Bay having received the nomination of the Town of Oyster Bay Republican Committee at its annual convention on May 28.

Nominated along with Venditto were Councilmen Joseph D. Muscarella, Anthony D. Macagnone and Rose Marie Walker for town board; State Assemblyman Steven L. Labriola for town clerk and former legislator John Canning for receiver of taxes.

Venditto, who is seeking his fourth term, brings more than two decades of experience in public service to the supervisor's office. He served as town attorney from 1991 to December 1997 and as a town councilman from 1981 to 1991. He is a fiscal conservative, who says he works hard to make government efficient and provide quality public services at the lowest costs to taxpayers. A released statement from Friends of John Venditto makes the point that while other levels of government are facing economic difficulties, under Supervisor Venditto's leadership, the Town of Oyster Bay has a strong financial outlook and has earned an A-1 credit rating from Moody's Investors Service.

Venditto developed the town's $30 million "SEA" Fund for open space preservation and park improvements and expansion and is overseeing the renovation and building of town parks, beaches and community playgrounds. He led the effort for comprehensive planning and is overseeing a number of planning initiatives, including the "Vision 2020" plan, which will provide a blueprint for future development in the town and, it is noted in his statement, will ensure that property values, which have steadily increased under his administration and are among the highest in the region, continue to grow. He also rid the town of adult entertainment establishments.

Town Councilman Joseph D. Muscarella was appointed to the town board in April 1995 and elected to that position in November 1995. Hailing from a family with a long tradition of public service, the statement says he knows the importance of being responsive to his constitutents. As a partner in a successful insurance agency, it is noted in the Republican's statement, his business acumen is especially helpful in the town board's ongoing efforts to hold down taxes and still provide the highest quality municipal services. He has been actively involved in the Superfund cleanup of the Liberty Industrial Finishing site in Farmingdale, working closely with the Environmental Protection Agency and residents to structure the cleanup. He is also involved with town engineers on a program in which all town parking fields are being thoroughly examined to determine how to maximize their efficiency and capacity. He has a record of civic and community involvement, which includes membership in many organizations.

Town Councilman Anthony D. Macagnone was elected to the town board in November 1999. Along with Venditto, he initiated legislation to establish a "living wage" law, which ensures that employees of companies that perform service contracts or subcontract for the town earn an hourly wage adequate to meet their needs. He and Venditto also sponsored legislation that made the Town of Oyster Bay the first town in Nassau County to require contractors and subcontractors doing business with the town to have apprenticeship-training programs. Born and raised in Farmingdale, he has been a member of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America since 1981. He worked his way up through the ranks of apprentice, journeyman, foreman and shop steward. Councilman Macagnone is currently council representative /treasurer of Long Island Carpenters Local 7 and an organizing representative of the Empire State Regional Council of Carpenters. He is also on the advisory boards of the Coalition to Save Long Island Jobs, the Long Island Progressive Coalition and the Family and Children's Association, as well as being active in a number of civic and sports organizations serving the Farmingdale community.

As a lifelong resident of Hicksville, Rose Walker has a record of commitment and service to her community. She has shown a special dedication to education and youth activities. She is a former trustee of the Hicksville Board of Education, was a founding member of the Hicksville Athletic Booster Club and a coach for the Holy Family CYO Swim Team, the LSA Nassau County Swim Conference Swim Team and the Levittown Swimming Association. She also volunteered countless hours in the athletic fields of the Hicksville PAL Lacrosse, Hicksville Baseball Association and the Levittown Red Devils Football League. She served in many officer positions and as president of several PTA units and is a past president of the Hicksville Council of PTAs.

State Assemblyman Steven L. Labriola has a good deal of government and community service. He has represented the 12th Assembly District since 1996 and currently serves as a member of the Standing Committees on Education and Banks and as a member of the Legislative Commission on Toxic Substances and Hazardous Wastes. Prior to his election to the State Assembly, he served as an aide to Congressman Norman Lent and later as Director of Operations for the Town of Oyster Bay, in which position he computerized operations and improved systems, procedures and equipment that resulted in increased operating efficiency. He is well-known in his home community of Massapequa for taking an active role in local civic, fraternal and small business groups.

John Canning served two terms in the Nassau County Legislature where, the Republican's statement says, "he earned a reputation as a hardworking, responsive and dedicated public official." During his tenure, the Sea Cliff legislator led the effort to preserve open space, sponsored the Truth-in-Advertising Law, led legislative oversight of Nassau's Y/2K readiness and chaired the Committee on Government Services and Operations. He is also no stranger to community service and is involved in numerous civic, environmental and fraternal organizations, including the New York State Long Island North Shore Heritage Area Planning Commission, the Visiting Nurse Association of Oyster Bay-Glen Cove and the Sea Cliff Civic Association. He is also a former board member of the Friends of Raynham Hall. He is currently an attorney in private practice in Sea Cliff.

Venditto said, "The past five-and-a-half years of serving the residents of the Town of Oyster Bay have been the greatest experience of my life. It has been extremely rewarding to have been successful on many of the issues I set out to tackle, such as getting the town on sound financial footing and maintaining its standing as one of the most desirable places to live anywhere in our great nation. However, the business of government is never done and there are still things my colleagues and I would like to do in, and for, this town. With the help and support of Oyster Bay Town residents, we will keep Oyster Bay a great place to live and raise a family."