Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto, who has pledged to freeze town taxes for 2008, will head the Republican slate in the Town of Oyster Bay (TOB), having received the nomination of the TOB Republican Committee at its annual convention on May 31. Nominated along with Venditto were Councilmen Joseph D. Muscarella and Anthony D. Macagnone, Councilwoman Rose Marie Walker, Town Clerk Steven L. Labriola and Town Receiver of Taxes James J. Stefanich.

Seeking his sixth term, Venditto 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 works hard to make government efficient and provide quality public services at the lowest costs to taxpayers. While other levels of government are facing economic difficulties, under Venditto's leadership, the TOB has a strong financial outlook and has earned an Aa3 credit rating from Moody's Investors Service and an AA credit rating from Standard and Poor's.

Venditto developed, and the voters overwhelmingly approved, the town's two acclaimed $30 million SEA Fund programs for open space preservation and park improvements and expansion, under which the town has acquired more than 84 acres of land and undertaken a variety of park improvement projects, including new playing fields, two new community centers, new playgrounds, and refurbishing pools and basketball courts, to name a few, which were a part of the unprecedented renovation and refurbishment of town parks, beaches and community playgrounds he spearheaded.

Venditto has also taken the lead on environmental fronts. He formed the Green Energy Task force to develop and implement clean energy programs and initiatives throughout the town. In March 2005, the TOB has become the first town on Long Island to adopt an annual Clean Energy Action Plan.

Knowing the importance of proper planning to ensure against the over-development of the town, Venditto initiated the development of the Vision 2020 plan, as well as a number of local community improvement plans, which will provide blueprints for future development in the town and ensure that property values, which have steadily increased under his administration and are among the highest in the region, continue to grow. He rid the town of so-called "adult entertainment" establishments.

Responding to the need for housing for first-time homebuyers, under Venditto's leadership, the TOB became the first municipality on Long Island to have a separate zoning classification for starter housing, known as Next Generation Housing. He also facilitated the development of 1,038 new units of affordable senior housing, bringing the town total to 1,510 units with more on the way.

Venditto and his wife, Christine, reside in North Massapequa along with their two sons, Nicholas and Michael, and a daughter, Joanna.

"It is humbling and gratifying to be asked to lead the Oyster Bay Town team once again. While it has been extremely rewarding and gratifying to see many of my goals achieved, such as getting the town on sound financial footing, helping create more housing opportunities for seniors and the next generation, acquiring more open space and parkland, and generally helping our town maintain its standing as one of the most desirable places to live, there is much more my colleagues and I would like to do in, and for, this town. I know they are as eager as I am to continue moving Oyster Bay forward and, with the support of town residents, making it an even better place to live, work, play and raise a family," said Venditto.

Councilman Joseph D. Muscarella is a partner in a successful insurance agency. His businessman's perspective complements the other professional experience represented by his colleagues on the town board. His business acumen is especially helpful in the town board's ongoing efforts to hold the line on taxes and still provide the highest quality municipal services.

Hailing from a family with a long tradition of public service, Muscarella knows the importance of being responsive to his constituents. Commuters have a friend in Muscarella, who is working 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 recently introduced legislation to create a standardized procedure for securing legal and equitable remedies and to strengthen existing laws to effectively prevent buildings, residences and premises from being used in such a way as to constitute a public nuisance.

An admitted weather buff, he has been involved in advancing the town's emergency preparedness procedures and in efforts to educate residents on how to be prepared if a major hurricane strikes Long Island. A longtime resident of North Massapequa, Muscarella, and his wife, Carol, are the parents of three children, Annette, Joseph and Andrew.

Councilman Anthony D. Macagnone was elected to the town board in November 1999 and re-elected in 2003. He initiated legislation to establish a "living wage" law, which ensures that employees of companies that perform service contracts or sub-contract for the town earn an hourly wage adequate to meet their needs. He sponsored legislation that made the TOB the first town in Nassau County to require contractors and subcontractors doing business with the town to have apprenticeship-training programs. He has been actively involved in the Superfund cleanup of the Liberty Industrial Finishing site in Farmingdale and is working closely with the Environmental Protection Agency now that the cleanup is under way. He also introduced a comprehensive next generation homebuyer's plan, which allows more young people the opportunity to purchase homes in the TOB. Born and raised in Farmingdale, he has been a member of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America since 1981 and is currently Treasurer of Long Island Carpenters Local 7 and a council representative of the Empire State Regional Council of Carpenters. Macagnone resides in Farmingdale with his wife, Susan, and daughters, Kelly and Shea. Councilwoman Rose Marie Walker is a lifelong resident of Hicksville. Since being elected to the Oyster Bay Town Board in 2003, she has worked tirelessly on a number of pressing issues. Most recently, she proposed legislation aimed at cracking down on illegal occupancies in the town. Walker takes every opportunity to meet residents in every venue from senior clubs to civic meetings to community events. She is a familiar figure in her home community where she has compiled an impressive record of commitment and service, demonstrating a special dedication to education and youth activities. Walker is the proud mother of Rob, Jennifer, Bryan and Kristi. Receiver of Taxes James J. Stefanich was first elected in 1999 and was reelected in 2003. Using his more than 32 years of experience in systems analysis and design, project management, mechanical and electronics engineering, and computer information systems, he has helped move the tax office to the cutting edge of computer technology. Among the other procedures and systems he has introduced to help make the tax office more responsive to residents is the first fully integrated online tax viewing and tax payment system in New York State. Using this system, residents can, from the convenience of their homes, pay their taxes by credit card or a personal checking account. A long time volunteer with the Boy Scouts, Stefanich has also been a member and/or officer in alumni associations from past educational associations. He has been married to Kathleen Bannon since 1970 and has three sons, James, Kevin and Thomas. Steven L. Labriola was elected Oyster Bay Town Clerk in 2003 and reelected in 2005. He has a wealth of government and community service, including serving as an aide to Congressman Norman F. Lent, director of operations for the TOB and as assemblyman representing the 12th Assembly District for seven years. During his first term as town clerk, he expanded office hours and improved systems and procedures resulting in increased operating efficiency. He also has a solid record of community service and is well-known in his home community of Massapequa for taking an active role in local civic, fraternal and small business groups. Labriola was born and raised in Massapequa Park and educated in Massapequa public schools. He currently resides in Massapequa with his wife and two daughters.