In the spirit of competition that permeates Super Bowl Sunday, Ann Galante officially kicked off her campaign to retain her seat as the Receiver of Taxes for the Town of North Hempstead.

Galante, served as a Mineola trustee for three years before being elected the first woman Mayor of Mineola in 1986. She served as mayor until 1991 and in November of that year defeated 15-year-incumbent Bob Valley for the position of receiver of taxes.

In 1996 she was selected to be a Presidential Elector in the New York State Electoral College.

"I enjoy being a public servant. It gives me a great deal of satisfaction," said Galante at the Italian American Civic Association headquarters, where she hosted her Super Bowl Party.

Outside of her official duties, Galante is active as the president of Soroptimist International of Nassau County and is a member of the Mineola-Garden City Rotary among many other organizations.

She was recently awarded the Frank Lesser Humanitarian Award for her community service and she was named to the Who's Who of American Women.

With a sizable list of accomplishments and activities already, the idea of retiring did cross Galante's mind, but after some discussions with valued advisors, she decided to run again.

The reason she gave for running is also in her mind her greatest accomplishment, making the payment of taxes easier.

As Receiver of Taxes, Galante is personally responsible for the $200 million in taxes paid by Town residents for 13 school districts, Nassau county, the Town of North Hempstead and other special districts.

Continuing in a vein of neighborly government, where a taxpayer knows who they are paying, Galante and her staff have developed a system to start in June, where receipts will be issued to the taxpayer, so they also know where their money is going.

Ken Schwitz, deputy receiver of taxes, agrees with this program and also lauded Galante and her staff for their work with the County Assessor's office in the implementation of the STAR or School Tax Relief Program.

Schwitz who was on hand at the party was not the only North Hempstead official there to support Galante. Town Councilmembers Doreen Banks and Tony D'Urso were there as was Assemblyman Thomas DiNapoli.

Having such support from North Hempstead Democrats as well as a base in the predominantly Republican Mineola, has made Galante a strong candidate. In 1995 she was re-elected with the highest vote total and percentage of any Democrat in the Town of North Hempstead.

So strong a candidate in fact that after the untimely passing of State Senator Michael Tully, Galante's name was suggested as a possible candidate to run against then Assemblyman, fellow Mineola resident and eventual State Senator Michael Balboni, for the seat. Galante chose not to run and to instead remain receiver of taxes.

Explained Galante, "I did legislative (as trustee). I did executive (as mayor). This is different. I like the people I work with. It is a nice atmosphere. I enjoy it."

To keep her seat she said she will run a positive campaign and concentrate on her own accomplishments, not worrying about whoever her opponent will be.

Charged with running this campaign is her committee of husband James, son Joseph, Schwitz and herself.

It is a purposely small group, with a hometown feel, which is the way she wants to run her campaign, the reason she wants to remain receiver of taxes and the reason that she wanted to spend her Super Bowl Sunday and campaign kick off with her friends in Mineola.