Meet The Candidates: Joseph Capobianco Runs For Glen Cove Council

GLEN COVE, NY — Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 2. And with voting just around the corner, Patch is reaching out to candidates across Nassau County to find out why they're running for office, and what they hope to achieve for residents.

Republican Joseph Capobianco, 61, is vying for a seat on Glen Cove's City Council. A practicing attorney, Capobianco has experience serving the Glen Cove community — spending five years on the City Council before losing re-election in 2019.

He also served on the Board of Directors for Nassau County Medical Center and on the Board of Managers of the Glen Cove YMCA.

You can learn more about Capobianco below.

Why are you seeking elective office?

I believe I can make a difference in our City based on my background, experience, and knowledge of the community. I learned a great deal during my five (5) years on the City Council and would like to put that knowledge to work for the betterment of the City.

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

Finances. I twice voted against piercing the state-mandated tax cap. Prior to the current administration, we secured two Moody's upgrades while reducing the overall debt, balanced the budget, and eliminated fiscal stress as recognized in the State Comptroller's report, all while holding a firm line on taxes. I will continue to closely monitor the use of City funds to ensure that your hard-earned tax dollars are spent wisely and not wasted.

As a councilman, I championed the audit of the retirees receiving health insurance from the City, which uncovered hundreds of thousands of dollars of insurance premiums wrongfully paid by the City. At the end of 2017, the budget surplus totaled $2.7 million.

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

I twice voted against piercing the state-mandated tax cap. I will bring an independent voice to the Council and will not act as a rubber stamp. I will also be able to analyze issues from a legal and accounting perspective.

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

I believe independent voices are needed who will not blindly follow the Mayor and that differing opinions are a healthy part of our democracy.

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?

I believe that City Hall was shut down for far too long even after we learned to take precautionary measures to protect ourselves from this insidious virus. such as mask-wearing, social distancing, washing hands frequently and longer.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Attacking illegal housing with vigorous code enforcement. I will do what it takes to make the quality of life in Glen Cove a priority for all our residents. I also recognize that there is a lot of development in Glen Cove and it is time to re-evaluate the Master Plan which is now more than 12 years old. We need to digest the developments in the pipeline which I intend to make that a priority.

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

I am a practicing attorney and also worked for a large accounting firm. I know how to read and dissect budgets. I gained invaluable experience during my previous five (5) years on the council. I also served on the Board of Directors for Nassau County Medical Center, where the budget was substantially more than the City revenues, and on the Board of Managers of the Glen Cove YMCA.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Treat everyone like you want to be treated.

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

Having been on the City Council for five (5) years and as a practicing attorney with an accounting background, I believe I have demonstrated the necessary attributes to handle the position. I will always do what's in the best interests of Glen Cove. I closely monitor the use of City funds to ensure that residents' hard-earned tax dollars are spent wisely and not wasted.

Editor's note: The candidate's responses have been lightly edited for clarity.