Joseph Scianablo, a Marine combat veteran, retired New York City Police officer, and former Queens prosecutor, announced his candidacy for Hempstead Town Supervisor Feb 4., launching a rematch against incumbent Republican Supervisor John Ferretti.
Here we go again.
Scianablo, a Democrat who ran for the same office last year, said his previous campaign helped bring attention to what he described as backroom deals, inflated fees and political favoritism in Town Hall. Now, he says he’s returning “to finish the job.”
Ferretti defeated Scianablo last November. Terms for town supervisors are two years, however following a change in state law next year that shifted county, town and village municipal elections to even years, meaning that Ferretti will return to the ballot this year.
“I am running because the people of the Town of Hempstead deserve a government that works for them, not for a handful of insiders,” Scianablo wrote in his announcement on Feb. 4. “What we uncovered was only the beginning, and it makes it clear there is still more that needs to be brought into the open.”
Following the appointment of Ferretti last August as town supervisor, Scianablo filed a lawsuit alleging that Ferretti and the board violated the state’s Open Meetings Law, which requires 24 hours’ public notice for resolutions scheduled at meetings. State Supreme Court Justice Gary Carlton ruled last October that the appointment had violated the law, but the decision did not nullify Ferretti’s appointment.
His campaign is centered on the slogan “No Community Left Behind,” a promise, he said, to provide equal service to every neighborhood, regardless of political influence or affluence.
“Whether you live in one of the Town’s most affluent neighborhoods or one that’s been ignored for years,” Scianablo said, “you deserve the same level of service, the same respect, and the same value for your tax dollars.”
If elected, prioritizing exposing mismanagement, initiating an independent audit of town finances, and reducing fees and water costs, are among Scianablo’s top priorities. “We are going to put your money back to work for you,” he added.
His campaign has received the endorsement of New York State and Nassau County Democratic Chairman Jay Jacobs, who praised Scianablo’s background in military service, law enforcement and the legal system.
“Joe Scianablo represents the very best of public service,” Jacobs wrote in a statement. “He has the courage to tell the truth, the experience to lead, and the determination to deliver real results for the people of Hempstead.”
Scianablo acknowledged that he expects a difficult campaign, but he is prepared. “I’ve taken on tough fights my entire life,” he said. “This is no different. We know there is a lot more to fix and that needs to be brought into the open, and we are ready.”
In response to Scianablo’s announcement, Brian Devine, director of communications for the Town of Hempstead, wrote in a statement to the Herald “Supervisor John Ferretti has made life more affordable for residents by cutting Town taxes by millions of dollars and he will continue to work tirelessly to keep our community the safest in the nation.”
Joseph Cairo, the Nassau County GOP chairman, expressed his confidence in Ferretti’s reelection chances. “John Ferretti has delivered meaningful tax relief, making life more affordable for all residents,” Cairo wrote in an emailed statement to the Herald.
