Jeffrey M. Losquadro, a fourth generation native of Albertson, is running as a Republican Party candidate for the District Two council seat in the Town of North Hempstead. He resides in Albertson with his wife, Marianne, and their three children, Kristin, 17, Jessica, 13, and Michael, 8.

A graduate of Herricks High School, Losquadro attended Nassau Community College with a focus in Business. He worked on Wall Street for three years, for Warburg, Paribas, Becker, and Dean Witter. After leaving Wall Street, Losquadro joined the family-owned and operated fuel oil business, Hy Grade Fuel Oil, which he currently owns and still operates as a third generation family proprietor.

In Albertson, Losquadro coached boy's lacrosse and soccer at the Herricks schools. "I am the only undefeated lacrosse coach in Herricks history two years in a row," he said.

Currently, Losquadro is the chairman and elected water commissioner of the Albertson Water District.

"During my tenure at the district, we completed a capital improvement project of over $4 million on time, and under budget," he said. "During that time, we did not raise rates or taxes, and reduced Commissioner spending by more than 60 percent."

Losquadro is also a member of the following organizations: Albertson Civic Association, Mineola Lions Club, New Hyde Park Kiwanis Club (V.P.), Nassau Suffolk Water Commissioner Association (V.P.), Herricks Athletic Boosters, Sons of Italy (Celleni Lodge), and the Herricks P.T.A.

"I decided to run for Town Council because I feel that I can use my business knowledge, which includes budgeting, customer service, satisfaction, and a willingness to succeed," he said. "A third generation business today is quite rare. My skill and experience in running a branch of town government, which includes the same ideas along with budgeting, capital improvements, and long-range planning, while reducing Commissioner spending gives me the qualifications to restore honesty, integrity, and accountability to a higher level of town government.

"The residents of my area have felt neglected and feel that the government is not responsive to the community. Assessment, overdevelopment, and a building department that has not only failed the residents and the developers, but the very government it is supposed to represent," he continued. "While taxes and spending are out of control, the services that the unincorporated parts of our community receive are greatly suffering. Roadways and parks are neglected, and our seniors and young people today, are worried about what tomorrow brings. There are more homes for sale in our community than we can recall, which indicates a mass exodus from here to a more affordable place to live. The residents are asking hard questions, and demand real answers. As a Town Councilman, I will take my deep roots with care and service to my community, and restore honesty, integrity, and accountability to a community in which I hope one day my children and grandchildren may enjoy."

Losquadro is running on the Republican, Conservative, and Independent Party lines. "I have been endorsed by the Police Benevolent Association, Detectives Association, and the Superior Offices Association," he added.

-By Joe Scotchie

The descendant of a family that has lived in the Town of North Hempstead for over a century, Thomas Dwyer has served as a Democratic Party councilman for the town in District Two for the past six years.

Dwyer is a graduate of both the State University of New York at Stony Brook and the Bernard Baruch Business School in Corporate Finance. Involved in the real estate market, Dwyer currently runs two companies and serves as the Chief Operating Officer for a third one.

Dwyer lives in North Hempstead with his wife Melissa and their three children, Juliana, Leah, and Thomas. Dwyer has served on the Board of Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America and currently serves on the Board of the Working Organization of Retarded Children and Adults and the Irish Americans in Government. He has also served as a Commissioner of the North Hempstead Housing Authority.

Summing up his accomplishments and the issues facing the town, Dwyer said: "North Hempstead's government is always flexible to the needs of the people we serve. In North Hempstead, we have created a constituent response system (311). Although, the 311 system is only two years old the Town has received and responded to over 200,000 callers. The 311 system is an essential tool we use to understand the needs of the community.

"Over the past several years the Town has engaged several communities in a 'visioning" process,'" Dwyer continued. "Each area that has been designated for the visioning process is contacted through a mass mailing. The elected officials, staff and the community discuss over a series of meetings the project or issues most critical to the community. The results have been tremendous in Roslyn Heights, Manhasset, Carle Place, New Cassel and Great Neck.

"In Port Washington, the visioning included multiple municipalities and our Office of Inter-municipal Coordination (OIC) was called into action," Dwyer said. "The OIC was developed to allow fellow governments the ability to communicate and work together. The Town currently has over 30 inter-municipal agreements with villages, special districts and school districts. We are currently paving several roads in East Hills and the Town is in discussions with the Village of Roslyn Harbor.

"Our parks and roads are the pride of the Town," Dwyer maintained. "We have recently completed rebuilding Donald Street Park in Roslyn Heights. In addition on September 10, 2007 the Town of North Hempstead completed a transfer of parks and roads that will eliminate the overlapping of government services between the Town and the County. We are working with villages, special districts and school districts to offer economies of scale and reduce costs.

"Over the last six years, the Town has attempted to set an example for the community by using energy efficient and alternative energy methods," Dwyer concluded. "Three years ago the Town began a process to convert its fleet of vehicles to hybrids. We began by purchasing seven new hybrid vehicles which use electricity and gas, and the Town is in the final stages of purchasing a hybrid bus."

-By Joe Scotchie