Republican Steve Labriola was returned to the 12th Assembly District by a landslide number of votes in the elections held this Tuesday, Nov. 7.

Labriola, a lifelong resident of the Massapequas, received 30,122 votes, compared to the 13,743 received by his Democratic opponent, John A. Tartaglia of Massapequa Park, according to Nassau County Board of Elections results received Wednesday morning. Labriola was re-elected to serve a third consecutive term.

"I'm humbled by the voters' overwhelming support for me in a tough political year for Republican candidates. I attribute my success at the polls to a number of factors. I listen to people, and their concerns, I treat people with dignity, and I work very hard for people at home and in Albany," Labriola said at press time, elated with his re-election.

"My staff, Madeline Strasser, Christine Wiss, and Crystal Hurrell, are compassionate public servants who work their hearts out to get the job done. And with their help, I respond to every constituent. "

He added, "Also, I love this town and the people in it, and I want to thank all those who supported me. And to those people who voted for my Democratic opponent, I want you to know that I will work even harder to win your confidence."

In the midst of anti-Republican sentiment stemming from the Nassau County fiscal crisis, Labriola and other local state Republican incumbents had campaigned ardently on the legislation and programs they had initiated while in office.

Labriola had said he believed constituents would recognize the difference between their levels of government and the success state lawmakers have had in reforming government in New York. He had pointed to such programs as School Tax Assessment Relief (STAR), a school property tax relief program which is being phased in under the current administration. He said that he and his Republican colleagues are responsible for the passage of key legislation in the areas of education, healthcare, crime, the environment, and economic development. For example, in the area of healthcare, he described the EPIC program, which provides senior citizens with prescription drug coverage. The program, initiated last year, currently serves 120,000 seniors. The income eligibility limits have been expanded this year, to $35,000 for singles and $50,000 for a married couple. As an example of his work to protect the environment, Labriola noted that he introduced legislation to protect the public from the environmental health hazards of the gasoline additive MTBE. His legislation is known as "MTBE Public Health and Environmental Protection Act of 2000."

Whether due to Labriola's campaigning on these issues, his popularity in the community, or other factors, the incumbent received close to 70 percent of the vote, in a district in which Republicans comprise about 60 percent of the voters. Of the 30,122 votes received by Labriola, 25,399 were on the Republican line, with the incumbent's third party endorsements reaping the remainder. Labriola received 2,001 votes on the Right to Life line, 1,857 votes on the Conservative line, and 865 votes on the Independence line.

Labriola was first elected in 1996, to fill the term of Assemblyman Phil Healy, after the death of the longtime lawmaker. He was re-elected by a landslide number of votes against Democratic challenger Benjamin Podgor in 1998.

Prior to serving as assemblyman, Labriola served as a congressional aide to Congressman Norman F. Lent, as a planner for the Town of Oyster Bay Department of Planning and Development, assistant to the Town Board, and director of Operations for the Town of Oyster Bay. He is a graduate of Massapequa Public Schools, and St. John's University.

Labriola's opponent, Tartaglia, is also a lifelong resident of the local community. A carpenter and member of the Nassau Democratic Party, he lives in Massapequa Park. Tartaglia had campaigned on the need to make reforms to reduce the property tax burden, improve health care for the elderly, and improve the quality of life.