Citing a town board which is fundamentally flawed and lacking a vision, Town of Oyster Bay Democratic Candidate Francis Goban, a Hicksville resident, is looking to bring some fundamental changes to a town government he says has created a deficit.

Goban insists, despite contrary statements from Supervisor John Venditto, the town has amassed a budget deficit in 1999. The fiscal condition of the town, he states, has forced the town to overdevelop and has crippled the town's ability to financially address other issues, such as preserving environmentally sensitive land.

"The Republicans have been in power here for over 50 years. They have told us how responsible they are and what kind of good government they run. Well, they are responsible for a $313 million deficit in the county and approximately a $30 - $36 million deficit in the town."

According to Goban, the fact that the town has made several land sales in the past year is an indicator of a fiscal dilemma. "How come . . . they are trying to sell off land. If you had positive cash flow you would not be worrying about selling off land to get money. That is what it comes down to."

He further stated the budget deficit has prevented the town from contributing to an effort to purchase a parcel of environmentally sensitive land known as the Underhill property. The owners of the land, which is a water recharge basin for the major aquifer which lies beneath it, want to develop the land, and many fear that such development would ultimately pollute and diminish the aquifer.

"We have to preserve those [water sources]. They are going to make sure the future of Long Island is here for the kids that are growing up here. What are they going to have?" said Goban. "The town board is not aware of the fact that much of the property they are selling and allowing to be developed is there for pristine purposes. They are there to recharge our aquifers down below and filter our air."

According to Goban, the town's current fiscal state is a direct result of the Republican-dominated board which consists of members who are the results of a patronage mill that rewards party loyalty rather than business prowess. Hence, he feels two-party government must be restored to the town government for it to work effectively.

"If you do not get one party checking the other, whoever is in there is going to do the same thing that is happening now 20-30 years down the road. You cannot do it. You have to take a look at the people who are running."

Goban cites his lifetime of business experience, and the incumbent's lack thereof, as a defining criteria in this year's election.

"I can bring a tremendous amount of know-how to this entire governmental structure, and it is unfortunate that because of the numbers, as far as registered voters go, people who have anything that can be beneficial to the town or county do not get elected."

Goban feels the development of a master plan and the recodification of antiquated zoning codes are vital to the well-being of the town. He illustrates this need by pointing to the situation in Bethpage where Cablevision wants to operate a heliport in a residential area.

"Because there is no codification not allowing helicopter flights . . . All of these private companies that want helicopter service or private aircraft service should be relegated to using a bona fide FAA approved, DOT approved airport just six miles away. This way it precludes the airspace of Oyster Bay from being run over by helicopters."

He continued, "This is it, if you go ahead and recodify and you put in a master plan a lot of problems can be eliminated. When problems are eliminated cost factors are reduced but you have to be aware of the possible cost factors. This takes you right back to the board having a lack of vision."

He also expressed his opposition to the overdevelopment of the town and, in particular, the construction of a mall in Syosset on the Cerro Wire property. "I do not know what another mall is going to do," said Goban. "Any revenue that the mall does generate will be tempered by the business that it takes away from other shopping centers in the town and from small businesses in the area."

An increase of S-2 housing developments in the Town of Oyster Bay has prompted many heated debates among residents at board meetings over the last two years. Goban believes the concept of the housing is good, but indicates that it has deviated somewhat since its inception and should be modified.

"It was definitely a good idea, but it has gone astray. It has gone into providing a tremendous profit for a developer. The entire purpose that it was created for seems to have been pushed aside and it has become strictly 'How much money we could make.'"

He believes senior citizens in the Town of Oyster Bay should be able to live in any S-2 housing development in the Town of Oyster Bay. He further explains the program should be premised on "lower prices, better quality and better locations."

Goban, who is presently the executive director for constituent affairs for the 13th NY State Assembly District, ran for the US Congress in 1988 and 1990 and the town board in 1989 and 1991.

"We, the Democrats, have a plan. The plan is simply that we are going to have to return fiscal integrity to the entire town, because it has to be done. We have to eliminate the patronage mills, and we have to stop selling every piece of property against the environment.

"I hope the people begin to realize they have been ignored for a long time. I wish they would begin to think about being truly represented by knowledgeable people and that is the unfortunate part about it. They have been represented, but they have not been represented by knowledgeable people; they have been represented by party loyalty and the end result is that nothing is accomplished.