New developments in alleged Saladino-led sign removal

Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino is facing accusations by his Democratic detractors that he personally tore down their party’s political signs in the Village of Sea Cliff on Oct. 1. At an Oct. 3 Town Board meeting, Saladino, a Republican, did not confirm or deny the charges, saying only that posting political signs on utility poles is unlawful.

In Sea Cliff, however, the practice of attaching candidates’ signs to utility poles is permitted, according to village code.

At Sea Cliff's annual Mini Mart on Oct. 1, Democrats said, they saw Eric Tuman, the town’s general services commissioner, removing Democratic signs at the corner of Glen Cove and Franklin avenues, with the help of David Ryan, the Glen Head Republican Club president.

Tuman could not be reached by press time. Ryan said he had no comment.

Sea Cliff Administrator Bruce Kennedy said he saw Saladino and other town officials removing Democratic signs that were posted outside the village's fire department on Oct. 1. According to James Versocki, of Sea Cliff, a Democrat who is running for Town Board, the Democrats’ signs were then replaced with new ones that read, “Vote Saladino.”

Kennedy, a former Sea Cliff mayor, said, “I witnessed a human acting impulsively and having a lapse in judgment. The race is putting pressure on candidates, and the supervisor allowed a sign to get the best of him.”

Foul play with political signs is nothing new; it is a perennial problem in the weeks leading up to elections. It is rare, however, that such activities would take place in the light of day — in this case, reportedly at 9 a.m. — and even rarer that a high-level official such as a town supervisor would be accused of ripping down signs himself.

When reached for comment by the Herald, Saladino said, “It’s truly sad that false accusations such as these have become the new norm in politics. It’s another example of Marc Herman” — the Democratic candidate for town supervisor — “throwing up a smoke screen to hide his record of doubling property taxes” as president of the Syosset School District Board of Education.

According to Versocki, his supporters saw people, apparently backers of Republican candidates, altering campaign signs in Oyster Bay and along Route 106 on Oct. 11. “It just shows their level of desperation,” Versocki said.

The signs read, “Had enough corruption? Vote Democratic Nov. 7.” The word “Democratic” was covered by a yellow sticker with the word “Republican” in bold red.

“This is destruction of property,” Versocki said. “The money [for the signs] was raised by friends and neighbors, so it’s shocking that they would go as far as to deface them."

“The fact is they only tore down Democratic campaign signs,” Versocki continued. “It’s just indicative of [Saladino’s] character and how he governs. It’s shocking that he would get so upset about a sign and act to suppress free speech.”

When asked to comment further on the removed and altered signs, Saladino said, “It’s time to speak about the real issues.”