When Joseph Saladino took over as Oyster Bay town supervisor in 2017, he says, the situation was dire: $765 million in capital debt, a $44 million operating deficit and a bond rating at junk status.
Now, Saladino says, the town has turned a corner, with roughly $100 million in reserves. “That turnaround is nothing short of a miracle,” he said.
As he campaigns for another two-year term, Saladino, 64, points to fiscal recovery and local revitalization as top priorities. He also emphasizes the importance of his position.
“We’re not talking about running a library or a school,” he said. “Oyster Bay is the third-largest town in the United States, and this is not a training ground for people who are just starting out.”
A resident of Massapequa, Saladino and his wife, Halina, have three daughters and a grandson. He attended Tulane University and graduated from New York Institute of Technology with a degree in broadcast journalism. He served in the State Assembly from 2004 to 2017.
Saladino, who touts 37 years of government experience, said that shoring up town finances was a promise he made, and kept.
The property tax rate for Oyster Bay is 0.73 percent as of 2025. The median home price is $351,100, with a median annual property tax of $2,563.
Affordable housing is a key issue, and Saladino said he opposes high-rise, high-density developments. “The answer is not high-rise housing,” he said, citing the costs of infrastructure like sewage and water service, roads and schools. “I support redevelopment in sensible places.”
He pointed to the town’s revitalization initiative in Hicksville, where over 560 new housing units are currently being built.
Saladino also backs the town’s moratorium on battery energy storage systems, citing safety concerns.
“We’re environmentalists in this town, but safety comes first,” he said, adding that new data is being evaluated. “Once the professionals approve the plans in the right places, with proper precautions and away from homes, it’s something we’ll consider.”
He expressed confidence in John Wighaus, the newly appointed town inspector general. “He’s got over 30 years of experience, he’s nonpartisan, bright and a powerhouse,” Saladino said. “I’ve seen him in action and spoken to many people about him.”
Wighaus’s appointment followed a review process that narrowed down the field of 21 applicants, and he was unanimously approved by the town board.
Saladino opposes term limits for local officials. “The power to restrict the tenure of elected officials should solely be with the voters,” he said. “The voters have the right to put us in office and the right to take us out.”
He also opposes a new state law — currently being challenged in court — that would move most local elections to even-numbered years, aligning them with state and federal races. Saladino said the change would overcrowd ballots and wouldn’t save money.
He also dismissed proposals to replace the town’s at-large board election system with councilmanic districts, arguing that population density is already well represented, and that such changes could increase government costs.
As a Massapequa High School graduate, Saladino voiced strong support for the school district’s resistance to a state mandate to eliminate its Native American-themed logo and name, the Chiefs. “I understand the need to retire the name ‘Redskins,’ but ‘Chiefs’ is a symbol of respect,” he said.
Saladino rarely addresses national politics, but made an exception on foreign policy. “That one is personal,” he said, referring to his strong pro-Israel stance. “It’s very important to me.”
He quoted former ITT CEO Harold S. Geneen to sum up his philosophy of leadership: “It’s easy to hold the tiller when the seas are calm. How you handle the crises and complicated situations is the test of one’s mettle.”
The supervisor’s term is two years. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 4. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. For more Nassau County election information, visit shorturl.at/emosh.
