Along with the races for individual offices in Oyster Bay, local residents also approved Proposition Two, a $60 million environmental bond act. The act was approved by a healthy 22,381-8,684 margin.

The bond act was supported by environmental and civic leaders and Oyster Bay Town officials.

The bond proposal would be used to protect drinking water, preserve open space and critical habitat, and to prevent over-development. It would also be used for new and improved parks. According to its supporters, the cost of the preservation effort to the average household would be $2.65 a month.

"This is a huge benefit for the residents and taxpayers of Oyster Bay," said Town Supervisor John Venditto in a pre-election town meeting. "Not only would we protect our underground drinking water supplies, as well as our bays and streams and sensitive open space, we'd be improving recreational opportunities townwide."

Prior to the Nov. 6 vote, community groups launched an education campaign for SEA Fund III, the third Oyster Bay Environmental bond act. SEA stands for Saving Environmental Assets. "Oyster Bay residents have been wonderful to support past initiatives," said Lisa Ott, executive director of the North Shore Land Alliance.

All of the money produced by the SEA Fund III would stay in Oyster Bay and could leverage additional preservation dollars from state and county land preservation programs. Preservation purchases would be overseen by an advisory committee comprised of Town of Oyster Bay residents to ensure that the program stays on track and is effectively administered.

"The bond act would help Oyster Bay environmentally and economically," said Richard Amper, executive director of the Long Island Pine Barrens Society. "We'd be protecting Oyster Bay's open space while we control over-development - Long Island's number one problem. It's truly a win-win for every resident."