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Six seeking three seats on TOBay Town Board

The following are profiles on candidates running for a seat on the Oyster Bay Town Board. Voters will be asked to select three candidates from among six who are running. Additional profiles will appear next week.

Larry Weiss, Democrat

by Mike Schnitzel

Larry Weiss, Democratic candidate for Town Council, has not always been a member of the Democratic party. In fact, he switched parties just a few years ago and considers himself an open-minded moderate, finding himself becoming more and more attracted to Democratic values and embarrassed by the behavior of many Republicans in office, he said.

Weiss had some issues regarding boating that he thought needed to be brought up in front of the Town Council, and while testifying before them, developed a camaraderie with Town Clerk Martha Offerman, who asked him if he would like to run for Town Council.

"This is a great experience, and I think I have a lot to contribute," he said. "I belong to this community and there are things I need to address. Maybe it’s time for a regular guy to run for office. I’m not a career politician."

Weiss says he is a businessman and understands the balance between labor and management, and he will bring a level of integrity and honesty to the Town Council.

"I don’t owe anybody anything and I don’t think the government should either. Let’s stop catering to special interests," said Weiss.

Weiss wants to get people to care about the environment, get more affordable housing for the Town, and bring more efficiency to the management of Town government.

Weiss grew up in Massapequa, where his parents still live. He is an executive officer of the Oyster Bay Squadron of the United States Power Squadrons and a certified instructor of Power Squadron Safe Boating Course. He is a member of the Long Island Advertising Club, Long Island Software and Technology Network (LISTnet), Technology Advisory Board of Briarcliffe College, and is an active participant in The Waterfront Center in Oyster Bay. He is also a member of the Wantagh Jewish Center and past Trustee of the Kehillath Shalom Synagogue in Cold Spring Harbor. As a volunteer, he works as a counselor at the New York State Office of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services.

Weiss graduated from Plainedge High School in 1970. He currently lives in Plainview with his wife Donna and his daughter Laura.

"I made a vow with my wife based on the values we live by not to trash anyone. I am doing community service from my heart. There is no political agenda here," said Weiss. "Businesses generally don’t care as much about humanity. I do."

Rose Marie Walker,

Republican

by Mike Schnitzel

Republican candidate for Oyster Bay Town Council Rose Marie Walker has lived in the Town of Oyster Bay for nearly her entire life. She received a B.A. in education from Sacred Heart College in North Carolina in 1973, and afterwards worked as a substitute teacher in private and parochial schools. She was also involved in many community and parish activities, serving as President of the Holy Family Rosary Society, as a member of the Holy Family Parish Council, and in the PTA, from which she received the PTA Council’s Honorary Life Award.

"I have been very involved in the Hicksville community," said Walker. "I am very community minded and I believe in government serving the people. I feel I can do an excellent job on the Town Board."

Walker is passionate about protecting the environment, getting more affordable housing for the sons and daughters of the community, and keeping the quality of life of the Town of Oyster Bay the best it can possibly be.

Other community activities Walker has participated in include serving on the Board of Directors of the Levittown Swimming Association, coaching the Parkway Swim Team in the Levittown Swimming Association and the LSA’s Nassau County Swim Conference Team, serving as a trustee to the Hicksville School District Board of Education, and as a member of Concerned Citizens of Hicksville. Walker is also a board member of Irish Americans in Government, Secretary and founding member of the Hicksville Athletic Booster Club, Secretary of the Ernest T. Franke Republican Club, and Secretary of the Hofstra Lacrosse Parents Association.

Walker’s involvement in the community has garnered her numerous awards including New York State Assemblyman Marc Herbst’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Hicksville Community and the Dedication to Hicksville Award.

"I am very aware of issues we have to look at in the town. I am a hard worker, and I’ve been a hard worker my whole life," said Walker. "I’ve worked to make things better in my community."

Walker has some experience working for the Town government, including heading the Parks Department Accounting Office and working for the Family and Children’s Association as a Career Counselor in the Employment and Training Division of the Town of Oyster Bay Intergovernmental Affairs Department.

Walker lives in Hicksville and has 4 children: Jennifer, Bryan, Kristi, and Rob. She is the widow of John Walker, who was Commissioner of Town of Oyster Bay General Services and Executive Leader of Hicksville West.