Saladino touts 35-year political experience

Joseph Saladino wants to remain Oyster Bay’s town supervisor, and he believes voters will keep him in the seat because he has something no other candidate possesses: experience.

The Republican incumbent has spent the last 35 years working in local government, and that experience has given him the knowhow to serve the town — and to continue to serve the town — better than anyone else.

“I believe this campaign is about a contrast of resume,” Saladino told reporters as part of a recent Herald Roundtable session. “My resume is 35 years of government administration, specifically administrating government.”

The lifelong Massapequa resident says his top priority in another term is continuing improving the town’s finances. Under Saladino, Oyster Bay has reached AA bond status — one of the highest ratings available — and the town supervisor says he plans to get the town to AAA status, the highest possible rating.

Saladino’s predecessor left the town with junk bond status, he said, and that through not raising taxes and not taking out loans, his new administration has turned finances around completely.

“There is zero financial stress in this town,” Saladino said. “So, going forward, we’ll continue on the path to get that AAA bond rating. We’ll continue to reduce our capital debt. And we will continue to cut taxes. That’s what we’ve been known for.”

Another top priority for Saladino is improving town services and infrastructure. Under his administration, the town has repaved 35 percent of the roads, Saladino said, and plans to finish repaving the rest — although that may take more than just one more term as supervisor.

Saladino also has made a commitment to replacing the sports fields in the various town parks with state-of-the-art turf fields, as well as improving bathroom facilities in parks. All of this is part of Saladino’s wider goal of ensuring town residents have the highest standard of living and facilities of any municipality in the country.

“We have the best parks on Long Island, and people come here and say we have the best parks in the state,” Saladino said. “We have brand-new turf fields that are synonymous with what an NCAA Division I team plays on that our kids play on. That’s why you have teams in the Town of Oyster Bay going to the national and international finals in baseball and soccer.”

Saladino also touted his long-term commitment to the environment, protecting and preserving it remaining one of his proudest achievements. Long Island presents unique environmental challenges — particularly with regards to its single-0source aquifer — and that to help prevent nitrogen runoff into the harbor, Saladino authorized the reconstruction of Fireman’s Field, which he says now has basins that filter out impurities in the water.

He also intends to use money from President Biden’s American Rescue Plan Act to build an oyster and clam hatchery in Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park. Saladino emphasized the fact that oysters and clams naturally filter nitrogen out of the water, preventing the risk of harmful algal blooms such as red tide, and provide a habitat for other aquatic animals.

“I have a long record of environmental protection,” Saladino said. “I understand the balance between construction, what we do building housing for our population, and our pristine environment and how to protect that.”

Saladino added that he’s applied for a $10 million grant for Oyster Bay, which he would use in downtown revitalization efforts. Plans are still in the preliminary stages, but he hopes to build a promenade by the rail station, as well as a trolley to the waterfront.

“I understand this town, and I understand it at a very, very high level,” Saladino said. “Why? 35 years of experience in government administration.”