Joseph S. Saladino (born March 28, 1961) is an American politician. He is the current Supervisor of the Town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County, New York. Saladino previously served as a member of the New York Assembly. He is a Republican.

Joe Saladino
Supervisor of the Town of Oyster Bay
Assumed office
January 31, 2017
Preceded byJohn Venditto
Member of the New York State Assembly
from the 9th district
In office
March 14, 2004 – January 31, 2017
Preceded byAndrew Raia
Succeeded byChristine Pellegrino
Personal details
Born (1961-03-28) March 28, 1961 (age 63)
Massapequa, New York, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Residence(s)Massapequa, New York, U.S.
Alma materNew York Institute of Technology (B.S., M.S.)

Early life and career edit

Saladino was born in Massapequa, New York in the year 1961, and he graduated from Massapequa High School in 1979.[1] His mother, Jessie Saladino, was a teacher, and his father was the late Joseph J. Saladino, a former New York Supreme Court Justice.[2][3] He attended Tulane University and the New York Institute of Technology; he received a masters degree in broadcast journalism from the latter. He graduated summa cum laude.[4]

After graduating, he worked in journalism for six years. Some places he worked at included WNYG (AM) and News 12 Long Island. He also had a brief stint working for the Town of Hempstead and Town of Oyster Bay as an assistant.[5]

New York Assembly edit

After Steven L. Labriola was elected Town Clerk of Oyster Bay, on March 14, 2004, Saladino was elected defeating his Democratic candidate William R. Funk.[6] He won later that year in the general election with about the same percentage, against the same person.[7] He won every election since with at least 2/3 of the vote. After representing Assembly District 12, he was redistricted into District 9 in 2012 and was elected to represent that district.[8]

In the State Assembly, he was a strong advocate for the passing of Megan's Law in New York, and introduced bills related to drug abuse prevention.[9]

Town Supervisor edit

After John Venditto resigned because he was facing federal corruption charges, the Town Board voted near-unanimously to appoint him as Town Supervisor. He was sworn in by State Supreme Court Judge Stephen Bucaria on January 31, 2017, and he immediately changed leadership around the executive.[10] Within the first month of being appointed, he merged the sanitation, recycling, engineering, highway, vehicle maintenance departments to form the Department of Public Works, reorganized the building department to increase efficiency, and created a Board of Ethics.[5] In the 2018 budget, he lowered spending, slashed the debt, and cut property taxes, something he has wanted done in the state government as well.[11]

He won his first election as Supervisor in November 2017 with just under 52% of the vote in a five-way election, and in 2019 he received 58% of the vote, against his Town Clerk, James Altadonna, Jr.[12]

He was re-elected in November 2023 against Democrat Jared Behr.

In Professional Wrestling edit

Saladino appeared on the April 5, 2023 episode of AEW Dynamite to present a key to the city to All Elite Wrestling world champion Maxwell Jacob Friedman.[13]

Personal life edit

Saladino was once married, but does not have any children. He claims this allows him to focus more on his job and improving the Town. Saladino has lived in Massapequa his entire life.[5] His parents, both Italians, are both deceased, and he has one brother and one sister.[citation needed]

References edit

  1. ^ "Joseph S. Saladino inducted into M.H.S. Hall of Fame". www.massapequapost.com. August 27, 2008. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  2. ^ "Jessie Saladino, volunteer and wife of late NYS Supreme Court justice". www.massapequapost.com. August 26, 2015. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  3. ^ Boyle, Chris (September 21, 2010). "Tobay Marina Dedicated To Judge Joseph J. Saladino". Patch.com. Retrieved March 8, 2011.
  4. ^ "Meet Joe". Supervisor Saladino. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  5. ^ a b c "Meet Oyster Bay's new supervisor, Joseph Saladino". Herald Community Newspapers. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  6. ^ Toy, Vivian S. (March 14, 2004). "No Surprises In 3 Special Elections". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  7. ^ "New York State Board of Elections - Assembly Vote" (PDF). New York State Board of Elections. November 2, 2004. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  8. ^ "Saladino Elected to Fifth Term". Massapequa, NY Patch. November 7, 2012.
  9. ^ "New York Asm. Joseph Saladino | TrackBill". trackbill.com. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  10. ^ Rizzo, Frank (February 1, 2017). "Saladino Takes The Helm In Oyster Bay". Farmingdale Observer. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  11. ^ "Saladino: 2018 Proposed Budget Cuts Property Taxes, Eliminates Wasteful Spending, Reduces Debt & Continues to Deliver Important Services". Town of Oyster Bay. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  12. ^ "Nassau County 2019 Election Results". Long Island Weekly. November 6, 2019. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
  13. ^ "AEW World Champion MJF Receives Key To Oyster Bay, Sincerely Praises Long Island". Wrestling Inc. April 4, 2023. Retrieved April 7, 2023.

External links edit

New York State Assembly
Preceded by New York State Assembly, 12th District
2003–2012
Succeeded by
Preceded by New York State Assembly, 9th District
2013–2016
Succeeded by
Preceded by
John Venditto
Supervisor of the Town of Oyster Bay, New York
2017–present
Succeeded by
incumbent