Island Vote: Past corruption looms over Oyster Bay supervisor race

<p>Though five men are currently running for Oyster Bay town supervisor, it is the name of a sixth man that looms perhaps largest over the race – former Supervisor John Venditto, who resigned in January after being indicted on federal corruption charges.</p>

News 12 Staff

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Oct 19, 2017, 10:23 PM

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Updated 2,374 days ago

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Though five men are currently running for Oyster Bay town supervisor, it is the name of a sixth man that looms perhaps largest over the race – former Supervisor John Venditto, who resigned in January after being indicted on federal corruption charges.

Former Republican Assemblyman Joe Saladino was appointed in January to serve the rest of Venditto's term. He says cleaning up town hall has been his top priority since taking office.

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"This has been my passion," he told News 12 Long Island. "After 27 years of rock-solid experience, to come home and turn the ship around."

Democrat Marc Herman, a dentist from Woodbury, says professional politicians like Saladino are part of the problem in Oyster Bay and that real change will only come from outsiders.

"I believe in term limits. This isn't a second career for me. I'm not doing it for the money. I'm doing it to get in, make a change and get out," says Herman.

Meanwhile, the Progressive Party candidate, Jericho resident Jonathan Clarke, believes his experience as a trial lawyer is what Oyster Bay needs now.

"I really think that what they need now is a strong litigator that can take on all the areas that need to be fixed," says Clarke.

Reform candidate John Mangelli, also an attorney, narrowly missed being elected Oyster Bay supervisor two years ago. He, too, is talking tough about cleaning up Town Hall, and maintains that he's the right man at the right time for the job.

"I have the most experience necessary to get this town back on its feet," he told News 12.

It's been a familiar refrain in a heated campaign with 19 days left until Election Day.

Robert Ripp, the End Corruption Party candidate, was not available for an interview for this story.

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