Oyster Bay Town Council Candidates: Meet Laura Maier

MASSAPEQUA, NY — Voters in the Town of Oyster Bay will head to the polls Nov. 5 to cast their ballots for supervisor, council, clerk and receiver of taxes.

In the council election, seven candidates are vying for three open seats. Three candidates are running on the Democratic ticket and three are running on the Republican line. One is running as a Libertarian.

Comprised of the supervisor and six council members, the town board is the legislative body for the Town of Oyster Bay. The panel is responsible for operating the town, and does this by passing local laws, ordinances and resolutions.

Unincorporated areas in the town include Bethpage, East Norwich, Glen Head, parts of Glenwood Landing, Greenvale, Hicksville, Jericho, Locust Valley, Massapequa, North Massapequa, Old Bethpage, Oyster Bay, Plainview, Seaford, South Farmingdale, Syosset and Woodbury.

Incorporated villages in the town include Bayville, Brookville, Centre Island, Cove Neck, Farmingdale, Lattingtown, Laurel Hollow, Massapequa Park, Matinecock, Mill Neck, Muttontown, Old Brookville, Old Westbury, Oyster Bay Cove, Roslyn Harbor, Sea Cliff, Upper Brookville and Westbury.

Patch reached out to both candidates via email and/or Facebook to hear where they stand on important issues affecting the community.

Here are their responses.

Laura Maier

• Age (as of Sept. 1): 40
• Town of residence: Massapequa
• Position sought: Town council
• Party affiliation: Republican, conservative and Independence.
• Family: My husband Jeff and I have three wonderful boys.
• Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? No.
• Education: I earned a bachelors degree from Quinnipiac University.
• Occupation: Over the years as owner of Dairy Queen in Massapequa and Jersey Mike’s Subs in Farmingdale and Massapequa Park, I have excelled in site development, construction management, hiring and training employees, marketing, and customer relations. My businesses support charitable efforts for local PTAs and schools, sport teams, Boy and Girl Scouts, veterans, police officers, and fire departments. I also help raise charitable funds to support Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New Hyde Park through the Children’s Miracle Network.
  
  Before opening my businesses, I took my first job with AIM Healthcare Services. Hired as an account manager, I was promoted quickly to a regional director of the New York and New Jersey region. During my 10 years with the company, I was responsible for overseeing a staff of approximately 40 people across 40 hospitals throughout the region. My experience also includes working at North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health Systems as an assistant director of provider enrollment. During my time in this position, I oversaw a team of 20 people, who were responsible for enrolling physicians and staff in different health care plans. While I enjoyed my time in the health care management field, I always dreamed of owning my own business and took a leap of faith in pursuing my dream.

• Previous or current elected or appointed office: None.
• Campaign Website: JosephSaladino.com

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Residents want an honest government that delivers services while holding taxes down. If given your vote, I will pursue a common sense agenda that includes: holding the line on taxes, reducing debt, cutting waste, implementing efficiencies and repaving streets.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I have private sector business experience. I'm not a politician. I know what it takes to manage a business, balance the books and create jobs. This experience will benefit taxpayers in the Town of Oyster Bay. I believe in fiscally-conservative budgeting practices that mandate efficiency and limit spending.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)?

Supervisor Saladino is cleaning up the mess left behind by the prior administration. He has cleaned house, cut taxes, reduced debt and enhanced ethics by hiring an inspector general who previously worked with the FBI and CIA. I want to join this team and bring my private sector experience to the town. Together, we will seek savings in every corner of government and demand efficiencies. We must do all we can to hold the line on taxes, reduce debt, enhance ethics and repave local roadways.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

I have been a big supporter of local community organizations. I believe government must do more to work with PTAs, scouts, veterans, firefighters, and charitable organizations. Together, we can make the Town of Oyster Bay an even better place to live, work and raise a family.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I have the successful private sector business experience that's needed in government. After the success of my first store, I earned "Top Sales in Franchise History" by Corporate Dairy Queen. I was awarded the "Top 50 Women in Business" by The Long Island Press. I will bring this private sector work-ethic and management-ability to the government sector.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

Have no regrets in life. Always be kind to others, and live life to the fullest!

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

My family and I are members of the St. Rose of Lima Parish in Massapequa.