The same questions were asked of both candidates running for Supervisor of the Town of Oyster Bay, which is a two-year term. In the event the supervisor leaves office prior to completion of a full term, the Town Board appoints a replacement. That person serves until the next regularly scheduled election, at which time the voters elect an individual to serve the remainder of the term. There is no limit to the number of terms a supervisor may serve.

Incumbent Supervisor John Venditto is being challenged by Joseph Terino. Election Day is November 6.

Q: Where do you reside and how long have you lived there?

A: I am a resident of Syosset.

Q: What is your profession and family information?

A: I am an attorney with a history of public service. After graduating Fordham University's College of Business Administration and School of Law where I was the 1995 recipient of the coveted Archibald R. Murray, Public Service Award, I began my career serving Nassau County as an Assistant District Attorney. I now operate a general law practice in Syosset while continuing to serve the public as a member of the Nassau County Assigned Counsel Defender Panel and part-time prosecutor for the Nassau County Traffic and Parking Violations Agency. I live in Syosset with my wife Kara and three sons.

Q: What party lines are you currently running on?

A: Democratic.

Q: Are you involved in any specific community organizations?

A: I am a coach in the Syosset Soccer League and a member of the Knights of Columbus.

Q: What are your reasons for running?

A: My main reason for running is the taxes that are strangling our community.

Q: If elected, what are your goals for the Town of Oyster Bay? Which would you tackle first?

A: My first goal would be tax relief for our residents without compromising quality services. This will not come without addressing the issues of affordable housing and the lack of commercial growth. More and more people cannot afford to live here. Young families cannot afford to buy a one-family house. Senior residents, even those who have paid for their houses already, cannot afford the ever-increasing taxes. We need to offer alternatives or say goodbye to two generations. It is not enough to announce a tax increase moratorium in an election year. Our current leaders have not addressed the underlying problem. As time goes by, the current administration's policies, which stop progress, are squeezing residents and businesses out. Without a plan to replace them, and give them a chance to thrive, the tax burden on the rest of us will continue to increase.

We must address our tax problem in two ways. Consolidate and cut unnecessary government spending, while expanding our tax base by advancing smart growth redevelopment and revitalization of vacant lots and empty storefronts.

Q: Do you anticipate any challenges if elected? If so, what challenges?

A: Things have been done the same way for at least the last 10 years. Anytime you try to change the status quo you must anticipate resistance. However, I am not going to try to reinvent the wheel. There are a lot of things that are running very well in Oyster Bay. I will maintain the level of service that our residents have come to love. But there is a smarter way to do it. If we expand our tax base by creating more affordable housing for our young families and seniors and revitalizing our downtown areas by addressing pressing needs like ample parking we can give our businesses the chance they need to thrive.

Q: What are some of the major issues you are focusing your campaign on?

A: It all comes back to taxes. Tax relief leads to the solutions of many of our problems. For example, one way to offer tax relief is to combat the illegal housing problem that has run rampant. Illegal housing hurts all taxpayers by having additional residents using services [eg. schools, garbage pickup, parks, etc.] without paying their fair share of taxes. The burden of paying for those increased services then falls on the rest of us. The current administration has announced its latest crackdown on illegal housing. While enforcement is important, it is only attacking a symptom not the underlying problem. Illegal housing is rampant due to high taxes and a lack of affordable housing. People live in illegal, and sometimes unsafe, apartments because they are affordable. People have illegal tenants in their homes to help ease their own expenses and make ends meet. Before you can have meaningful enforcement you must offer an alternative otherwise you are just shoveling against the tide.

Q: What is your favorite aspect of the Town of Oyster Bay?

A: My favorite aspect of the Town of Oyster Bay is that it is a great place to live and raise a family. There are outstanding schools, friendly, diverse neighborhoods, parks and the natural assets of beaches on both the North and South shores.

Q: Have you ever run for political office before? Were you successful?

A: This is my first run for political office.

Q: Where do you reside and how long have you lived there?

A: I am a lifelong resident of the Massapequas.

Q: What is your profession and family information?

A: I was born in Massapequa and educated in the Massapequa School system. I earned a B.A. with a major in political science at St. John's University and a Juris Doctor at St. John's University School of Law. I was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1976 and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York in 1979. My professional affiliations have included the New York State Bar Association, the Nassau County Bar Association, the American Bar Association and the American Trial Lawyers Association. I am also a founding member of the Columbian Lawyers Association of Nassau County. Prior to becoming a Councilman in 1981, I was in the private practice of law. I have been involved in Oyster Bay Town government since 1981, first as a Councilman from 1981 to 1991, then as Town Attorney from 1991 to 1997, and as Town Supervisor since January 1998. My wife Christine, a teacher, and I are the proud parents of three children, Michael, Nicholas and Joanna.

Q: What party lines are you currently running on?

A: Republican, Conservative, Independence and Working Families Party lines.

Q: Are you involved in any specific community organizations?

A: I am a member and past officer of the Columbus Lodge #2143, Order Sons of Italy in America. I am also involved in the Knights of Pythias as a member of Mid Island Lodge #828 and as Honorary Deputy Grand Chancellor, State of New York. Additionally, I am a member of the American Committee on Italian Migration, of Massapequa American Legion Post #1066, of Massapequa B.P.O. Elks Lodge #2162, AMVETS Post #88, and an honorary member of the North Massapequa Fire Department.

Q: What are your reasons for running?

A: I believe there is no higher calling than to serve in public office and feel very privileged that the voters in the Town of Oyster Bay have seen fit to elect and re-elect me as both a councilman and as supervisor. I have seen many changes across the town. As supervisor, I have a great opportunity to establish programs and policies that will preserve our cherished suburban way of life. Each community within the town has its own unique character, and I am doing everything in my power to enhance the livability of our neighborhoods while preserving traditional land uses and the environment. Our communities face many challenges and opportunities. I have taken the initiative on a number of local community improvement plans, helped develop new zoning laws to address specific issues of concern, and worked with residents across the town to protect the resources that make our communities special places to live, work and play.

Q: If elected, what are your goals for the Town of Oyster Bay? Which would you tackle first?

A: My goals are to continue protecting our suburban way of life, our environment and open spaces, particularly from overdevelopment; that more opportunities are provided for the development of additional "Next Generation" and "Golden Age" housing; and that Town government continues to be efficient and provide quality public services at the lowest costs to taxpayers.

Q: Do you anticipate any challenges if elected? If so, what challenges?

A: The challenges are to continue protecting our suburban way of life, our environment and open spaces, particularly from overdevelopment; providing more opportunities for the development of additional "Next Generation" and "Golden Age" housing; and continuing to make government efficient and provide quality public services at the lowest costs to taxpayers.

Q: What are some of the major issues you are focusing your campaign on?

A: The major issues are the same as the goals and challenges: to continue protecting our suburban way of life, our environment and open spaces, particularly from overdevelopment; continue providing opportunities for the development of additional "Next Generation" and "Golden Age" housing; and continuing to make government efficient and provide quality public services at the lowest costs to taxpayers. I believe the Town Board, under my administration, has a solid track record in ensuring that the suburban way of life that is the hallmark of our township will flourish through cutting-edge zoning and planning, community development plans, harbor management plans, open space preservation and a host of other innovative and market-sensitive strategies. I am proud that more than 80 acres of open space and parkland have been acquired by the Town under the SEA Fund program I introduced. The "Next Generation" housing program I helped develop is making home \ownership a reality for young homebuyers, just as the "Golden Age" housing program has created 1,510 units of affordable housing for our seniors. And, following tried and true conservative fiscal practices, the Town is in excellent financial shape, which is reflected in the fact that we have two of the highest credit ratings a municipality can receive.

Q: What is your favorite aspect of the Town of Oyster Bay?

A: The Town of Oyster Bay is a very special place. One of the aspects I like is that each community in the Town has its own distinct flavor and assets, and the people in each community want to preserve the unique character that attracted them in the first place. This is always paramount in my mind when various applications for development come before the Town Board and when residents come to me with concerns about inappropriate development taking place in their neighborhoods. I believe the Town Board, under my leadership, has been proactive, responsive and sensitive in meeting the challenging task of striking the right balance so that development and redevelopment are done in a way that protects and enhances the suburban character and the environmental quality of life that make Oyster Bay's communities so desirable.

Q: Have you ever run for political office before? Were you successful?

A: I ran successfully for Oyster Bay Town Councilman, serving in that position from 1981 to 1991, and have had four successful runs for Oyster Bay Town Supervisor, the first being in 1997.

Complied by Denise Nash