Candidates for Oyster Bay Town Clerk

Incumbent Republican Steve Labriola Is Being Challenged by Democrat Michael Canzoneri

Steven L. Labriola

(The candidate submitted the following statement.)

I am seeking re-election to the office of Oyster Bay Town Clerk to continue serving the residents of the Town of Oyster Bay and to finish the job I have started. I have the experience, commitment and dedication, having served as Town Clerk for nearly eight years. Prior to joining the government team in Oyster Bay, I served as a New York State Assemblyman for seven years. I graduated from St. John’s University with a Masters Degree in Government and Public Administration.

Throughout my career, I have made government do more with less. Upon taking office here in Oyster Bay, I computerized operations and improved systems, procedures and equipment that has resulted in increased operating efficiency. My office utilizes state-of-the-art municipal clerk software, and under my direction, cash and accounting procedures have been modernized.

Furthermore, my office has established a comprehensive records management program, digitized vital records and preserved priceless historical documents. We have continued to catalog and inventory our Town records. The “Green Pass” Program I instituted encourages and rewards the use of energy efficient vehicles. Under my tenure, the Do Not Knock Registry was implemented to keep unwanted solicitors away.

Additionally, I was pleased to help draft and pass State legislation to end the practice of predatory towing.

My future goals include:

• Establishing a living history and speaker’s bureau for schools and local community groups featuring historical documents with the Traveling Town Hall.
• Creating a bi-weekly internet program – educational/interactive utilizing modern social networking applications.
• Continuing to lay the groundwork/foundation for the modern state-of–the art vault.
• Continue to maximize all grant opportunities for the Town.

Candidate’s Bio

Massapequa resident Labriola is a member of the Order of Sons of Italy in America, Knights of Columbus, Knights of Pythias, Kiwanis Club, Crown Village Civic Association and has been involved as a Big Brother of Nassau County Big Brothers/Big Sisters. He a member of the Long Island Housing Partnership Task force on Foreclosure Prevention; the New York Conference of Italian-American State Legislators; an Advisory Board Member of Broadlawn Manor; and worked with the volunteer fire departments, police, youth and senior programs in the district, as well as the Nassau Country Traffic Safety Board.

Labriola was born and raised in Massapequa Park and educated in Massapequa public schools. He attended St. John’s University where he earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Government, Politics, and Public Administration. He currently resides in Massapequa with his wife and children.

Michael Canzoneri

(The candidate submitted the following statement.)

I would like to become Town Clerk because I feel that  the current administration  has become complacent in their attitude and actions. Shown by statements [such as] ‘if people are complaining about not being able to afford to live here (in the Town of Oyster Bay) let them move if they don’t like it here,’ which was said by ‘the King’ – oops! – by Town Supervisor John Venditto. This is a serious indication of an unrealistic outlook on people’s struggles in this town.

I would work to trim expenses so the cost of running the Town Clerk’s office could be reduced to lessen the tax burden of fellow residents.

Candidate’s Bio

Michael Canzoneri is a longtime resident of Massapequa. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from The City College in NYC in 1976. He majored in TV and Film production.

“I come from a blue collar working family, and I have a strong union background over the years working in the film industry on major TV films such as Senior Trip that featured Scott Baio; and in Newsday’s with their collating and press union for eight years.”

He worked as an art substitute teacher in the Massapequa and Levittown Schools. Currently he teaches driver’s ed for a private company that serves multiple school districts throughout Nassau and Suffolk County.

A single parent, his daughter attends college, studying liberal arts.

Michael Canzoneri is a member of the Independence Party. He had been a registered Democrat but he was looking forward to the prospect of a third political party when he joined the Independence Party.