Saladino Beats Back Primary Challenge

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Saladino Beats Back Primary Challenge

Written by Joe Scotchie Friday, 21 September 2012 00:00

Wins large majorities in both Nassau and Suffolk counties

For a new decade, Assemblyman Joseph Saladino has a new district, but it hasn’t affected his political future at least as far as Republican Party primary voters are concerned.

Last Tuesday, Saladino had little difficulty in beating back a challenger from former New York City police sergeant, Richard Young. Running in the new 12th Assembly District, Saladino scored 81 percent of the vote. In the Nassau County portion of the district, voting results gave Saladino up to 90 percent of the vote, while the Suffolk County vote was a similar landslide for the assemblyman.

“I’m thrilled and honored that the public came out so overwhelmingly to re-elect me and help us win this very difficult campaign,” Saladino told The Massapequan Observer.

Despite the comfortable margin of victory, Saladino admitted the primary challenge represented a tough campaign. To underscore the importance of the new boundaries, the assemblyman’s annual Marine and Outdoor Recreation Expo, for instance, took place at the Captree State Park Boat Basin in West Islip, in the Suffolk County section of the new district rather than at its usual surroundings at Jones Beach. West Islip is also the home residence of Saladino’s opponent.

At the same time, the assemblyman was pleased by the turnout in villages in both counties, noting all the different “folks and organizations’ in Nassau and Suffolk who came together to support his candidacy.

“Going forward, [this campaign] shows how well we can work together in various areas in getting our fair share in Albany,” Saladino added.

During the primary season, both candidates stated their case for election, while criticizing each other. Saladino touted his votes for tax reductions, environmental protection, plus his work on law and order and substance abuse issues. He also charged his opponent, a retired police sergeant, was making the race in order to “get another check from the taxpayers.”

Young, for his part, denied charges of double dipping, claiming that the primary run would “cost [him] a fortune.” Young criticized Saladino’s votes on gun control and labor issues, plus those on “Jonny’s Law,” legislation that he said would make parents drug-test their children, an action that the challenger claimed was unconstitutional.

In the November election, Saladino will face another challenge, this one from Jay Cherlin, the Democratic Party nominee.

News

Dairy Queen Holds Grand Opening In Massapequa

Wednesday, 12 June 2013 00:00

Watch out, Massapequa...there’s a “Blizzard” coming through.

The famous frosted ice cream treat, along with a plethora of other tasty menu items, are now available to Long Island residents as of 10 a.m. on June 10, when popular fast-food chain Dairy Queen held their much-anticipated grand opening in Massapequa.

First debuting in 1940 in Joliet, Illinois, Dairy Queen has since grown to more than 4,500 locations nationwide. However, this is its first Long Island-based location since the 1970’s; the chain has been absent from the island since then.

Town Honors Military With Baseball Showdown

Thursday, 13 June 2013 00:00

America’s pastime gets the local treatment as Town of Oyster Bay officials announced Massapequa’s John J. Burns Town Park will host a special baseball game between the U.S. Military All-Stars and the Long Island Force High School All-Star team on Tuesday, June 25 at 8 p.m.

The teams will play for the 2013 Supervisor’s Trophy and honor the sacrifices made by men and women in uniform to protect the country.

Sports

Chiefs Baseball Not Deterred By Loss

Thursday, 13 June 2013 00:00

For a town with such a proud tradition of baseball excellence, the goal is always to reach the mountaintop. There is no reason to be demoralized, however, by a 1-0 season-ending defeat in the Long Island Class-AA Championship game, according to Head Coach Tom Sheedy.

“It was such a competitive game,” said Sheedy. “We had our chances, but today we didn’t come through.”

Massapequa put together a tremendous season, finishing with a 20-6 record and capturing another Nassau County title. They defeated MacArthur 7-5 in the prior week at Farmingdale State College to capture their 10th county title and first since 2009.

Runners Race Against Prostate Cancer

Thursday, 13 June 2013 00:00

Two Massapequa residents from the opposite ends of the age spectrum led a strong contingent of runners down the stretch at Belmont Park and scored great finishes in the 2nd annual Belmont Stakes Blue Ribbon 5-Kilometer Run to Fight Prostate Cancer June 2.

As the first woman in the 15-19 age group to cross the finish line, 16-year-old Chelsea Hroch of North Massapequa finished in 23 minutes and 10 seconds. Meanwhile, 81-year-old Howard Kestenbaum took second place in the 80 to 84 age group, with a time of 43:11.