Oyster Bay Town Council Candidates: Meet Melissa McCardle

MASSAPEQUA PARK, 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 each running on the Democratic ticket and three are running on the Republican line. One is running as a Libertarian.

The town board is the legislative body for the Town of Oyster Bay and is comprised of the supervisor and six council members. The board is responsible for operating the town 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.

Melissa McCardle

• Age (as of Sept. 1): 45
• Town of residence: Massapequa Park
• Position sought: Town council in the Town of Oyster Bay.
• Party affiliation: Democrat.
• Family: Husband, Adam Dulberg; son, Tyler Dulberg, age 9.
• Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? No.
• Education: Bachelor of arts in psychology from Hofstra University; MSW from New York University; PhD from The Graduate Center, CUNY
• Occupation: College professor for 12 years.
• Previous or current elected or appointed office: None.

• Campaign Website: ElectMelissaMcCardle.com

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

The New York State comptroller's office just released a report stating the Town of Oyster Bay is only one of eight municipalities in the state in "significant fiscal stress." It is imperative that we fix the town's finances with a bold agenda which prioritizes making the budget, debt, and procurement process transparent.

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

I am not a career politician. I am a wife, mother, community advocate, educator and mental health specialist who's running to bring a fresh perspective to the town board. My background in administration, budget management, and collaborative teamwork, provide me with the skills necessary to fix town hall.

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

The current administration's claims that Oyster Bay finances are sound were discredited by the recent NYS comptroller's report. The findings of the report paint a completely different picture from what the current administration has been touting. The reality is that debt, taxes and rising fees are creating a significant burden for residents. In addition, the lack of honesty in how tax dollars are spent, has broken the trust of the community. For example, in 2018 the current administration gave out significant raises to 87 employees citing the need for greater pay equity for women and yet the majority of those raises went to men. It is time for the community to experience honesty and transparency with regard to how their tax dollars are being spent. It is time to heal this broken trust.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

1. Invest in infrastructure, particularly roads.

2. Enact term limits for all town officials.

3. Protect our environment and hold polluters accountable.

4. Support our first responders.

5. Tackle the opioid epidemic.

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

Years of experience as an administrator in both health care and higher education, as well as being a former private practice owner, community volunteer, and committed resident have prepared me to manage our town finances and assure that our local government works for us.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

"Always remember to listen more than you speak and seek out those perspectives that are most likely to differ from your own."

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

I pledge to voters that I will focus on the everyday issues that affect our families and communities, to be transparent and forthright about our finances, to ask the tough questions, to listen, and to include the community in all processes.