Montauk - Last week before a crowd of constituents and colleagues, Jay Schneiderman (I-Montauk) took the oath of office and officially began his fifth term as County Legislator for the Second District. The ceremony took place at the William H. Rogers Building in Hauppauge marking the beginning of the Legislature's 2012 Organizational Meeting.

"I am honored to serve and represent the South Fork again," Schneiderman said. "I will steadfastly fight for the interests of my district. I will continue to take aggressive steps toward preserving open space, reducing traffic congestion, keeping our communities safe, reducing the cost of government, and helping our seniors and working families deal with the rising cost of living."

Schneiderman was first elected to the County Legislature in November 2003. He was re-elected in 2005, won with 70 percent of the vote in 2007, won with 100 percent of the vote on all party lines in November 2009, and won with 65.85 percent of the vote in 2011.

Legislator Jay Schneiderman (I-Montauk) has been named chair of the County's Public Works & Transportation committee by Presiding Officer William Lindsay for the third year in a row.

"I am honored that the Presiding Officer has once again provided me with the opportunity to continue to lead the Public Works & Transportation committee," said Schneiderman, "The last two years, I was able to make great strides as Chair in maintaining and improving the County's infrastructure. There are still many things I wish to accomplish this year including the further establishment of Sunday bus service, final improvements to CR 39, sidewalk installation in Bridgehampton, and the Flanders Riverside Sewer Study."

Schneiderman was Chair of Public Works & Transportation committee in 2006, 2007, 2010 and 2011. Projects that Schneiderman has helped shepherd include the widening of CR39, additional bus routes, Sunday bus service for the East End, construction of new county facilities at the Eastern Campus of Suffolk County Community College, repairs of the Shinnecock Lock system, adding ecological health as a criterion for county dredging projects, development of the regional solid waste management plan, launching a waste treatment study for Flanders, landmark legislation for affordable housing and various other initiatives.

Legislator Schneiderman will also serve as Vice Chair of the Legislature's Budget & Finance committee and a member to the Education & Information Technology committee.