Copyright 2005 Newsday, Inc.
Voters, concerned about high spending, turn out in high numbers and oust a dozen incumbents
By MICHAEL ROTHFELD
Staff Writer
Newsday (New York)
Staff writers Brandon Bain, Carl MacGowan, Eden Laikin, Christine Armario and Stacey Altherr contributed to this story.
Voters turned out in high numbers for more than 100 fire district elections in Nassau and Suffolk last night, returning most incumbents but ousting a dozen commissioners who preside over some of the fastest-growing budgets on Long Island.
In Hicksville, one of the most closely watched contests, challenger Robert Manson, a retired New York City fire chief, finished one vote ahead of incumbent Robert Dwyer. But the results were in dispute and the Nassau Board of Elections was expected to intervene today.
The race had hinged on management and spending in the district, which has a $6-million annual budget.
“I think it’s time for a change and the voters realize that - a change for the overspending of the district,” Manson said last night.
Dwyer, 52, called it “a very heated election.”
“My opponent spent quite a bit,” he said. “I’m very happy with the numbers.”
Loss for 12 incumbents
Fire district officials reported last night that 12 incumbent commissioners lost in 54 contested races. The upsets were in Cold Spring Harbor, Holtsville, Huntington Manor, Kings Park, Lake Ronkonkoma, Mattituck, Ridge, Roosevelt, Seaford, Selden, West Sayville-Oakdale and Yaphank. A race for an open seat in Eatons Neck was too close to call.
The remaining incumbents ran unopposed. The elections have traditionally had low turnout, with most of the voters coming from volunteer firefighter families, but that appeared to be changing.
A recent Newsday examination of the fire service on Long Island showed that the cost to taxpayers more than doubled, from $143.1 million to $295.5 million, between 1980 and 2000 after adjusting for inflation. Fire district spending grew almost three times as fast as other government spending.
And the trend is going to continue: Fire districts across Long Island are raising taxes on average by 11 percent next year primarily due to construction projects, employee hiring and benefits meant to encourage volunteerism.
In Hicksville, a line of about 50 voters snaked inside the fire department headquarters after the polls opened.
Manson criticized the fire district managers for a recent decision to purchase four new fire engines at once. Dwyer cited his “33 years of giving to the fire service,” as opposed to Manson’s paid city job.
Retired teacher Richard Evers, 83, voted for Manson yesterday, prompted by the Newsday series, which highlighted lavish fire stations.
“I think the important thing here is that we get some new men in charge,” Evers said.
But Diane Oliva, 47, backed Dwyer. “We need to have the best equipment for our volunteers,” she said.
Fire commissioners, much like school board members, are the elected governors of about two-thirds of Long Island’s fire departments, many of which also provide emergency medical services. Five sit on each board, and one commissioner runs each year for a new five-year term.
In South Hempstead, residents said they galvanized after Nassau Assessor Harvey Levinson informed them in March that the fire district tax rate was the highest in Nassau.
“It’s been a highly publicized election this year, but it’s never really been before,” said Laura Mallay, president of the South Hempstead Civic Association.
But incumbent Raymond Spatz soundly defeated challenger Mark Goldstein, who runs a business selling candy on the Internet. Goldstein, 49, touted his “business acumen.”
“We don’t really know what this other gentleman was looking for,” Paul Cartier, the commission chairman, said. “We do keep the line on the taxes.”
High taxes a rallying point
In Gordon Heights, in Brookhaven Town, the election exposed a rift in the fire district with the highest taxes on Long Island - $1,344 on average this year. “Enough is enough,” said Kevin Lee, a mechanic for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority voting yesterday.
Incumbent Harriet Wilson, 58, a recreation director with the Town of Brookhaven, defeated two challengers last night. She narrowly beat challenger Andrew Kime, 37, a New York City firefighter who lives in Fairway Woods, a subdivision within the Gordon Heights district. Voters defeated a proposal to borrow $260,000 for a new fire engine, however.
Staff writers Brandon Bain, Carl MacGowan, Eden Laikin, Christine Armario and Stacey Altherr contributed to this story.
Commissioner results
Following are the results of elections for fire district commissioners last night. Terms are for five years unless otherwise noted. (i) denotes incumbent.
NASSAU
Baldwin Michael McDermott
Bellerose Terrace Gasper DiPeri (5)
Donald Kipp (4) James Darden (3)
Bellmore John Podolski (i)
Bethpage Dennis Holz (i)
East Meadow William Neill (i)
Elmont Results N/A among:
Robert Winters (i)
Joseph Balletta
Vincent Socazio
Franklin Square & Munson Les Saltzman
Garden City Park Augustine Carnevale (i)
Hewlett Bay Nicholas Martino (i)
Hicksville
Too close to call between:
Robert Dwyer (i)
Robert Manson
Inwood James Pearsall
Jericho Arthur Kroll
Lakeview Grant Cartolano
Levittown Joseph Bentivegna (i)
Locust Valley Joseph Peirano (i)
Manhasset-Lakeville Bonnie Lynne Gould (i)
Massapequa Michael Mazzola (i)
Meadowmere Park Andrew Schmitt Jr. (i)
New Hyde Park Anthony Fischetti (i)
North Bellmore Angelo Catalano (i)
North Massapequa Michael Antonucci (i)
North Merrick Kevin O’Hara
Oceanside William Lynch
Lido/Point Lookout Andrew Richter (i)
Roosevelt Robert Wade
Seaford Silvio Bellissimo
South Farmingdale Gary Forry (i)
South Hempstead Raymond Spatz (i)
Syosset Dennis Hendrickson (I)
Uniondale Stephen Doherty (i)
Wantagh Donald Snyder (i)
West Hempstead Ralph Nicholes (i)
Westbury William C. Olson (i)
Woodmere Erik Kinney (i)
SUFFOLK
Amagansett Carl Hamilton (i)
Bay Shore Raymond Roberts
Bayport Lance Gillette (i)
Bellport Anthony DiDio (i)
Blue Point Dennis McCarthy (i)
Bohemia Roger Grace (i)
Brentwood Thomas Richards (i)
Bridgehampton John Muse
Brookhaven Richard Bressler (i)
Center Moriches Geoffrey Leek (i)
Lee Sinnickson (3)
Centereach Joe Garcia III (i)
Centerport Jack Geffken (i)
Central Islip Neil Finnin (i)
Cold Spring Harbor Robert DeMoustes
Commack Robert Ingram (i)
Copiague Robert McGrath (i)
Coram Vandorn Johnson (i)
Timmy Hindrick (i)
Cutchogue James Fogarty Sr. (i)
Deer Park Anthony Macaluso (i)
Frank Aloisi (2)
Dix Hills Michael Plumitallo (i)
East Brentwood Lou Raciti (i)
East Islip Matthew Curtis
East Marion Daniel Wood (i)
East Moriches Evan Goldstein
East Northport Bruce Grant (i)
East Quogue James Schaefer (i)
Eastport Randy Crennan (i)
Eatons Neck Steve D’Amato (i)
1 other race too close to call among:
Brian Gorman
Gary Hontz
Alex Zelenka
Michael Brown
Farmingville Norman Neill
Fair Harbor Neil Rudikoff (i) (4)
Fishers Island Not supplied by district
Flanders William Thum
Gordon Heights Harriet Wilson (i)
Great River Harold Sundin (i)
Greenlawn William Borowy (i)
Hagerman Michael Seidman
Halesite Paul Baim (i)
Hampton Bays Joseph Spitaleri Jr.
Hauppauge Christopher Hirsch (i)
Holbrook Charles Vermilyea (i)
Holtsville Brian LoPiccolo
Huntington Thomas Brown (i)
Huntington Manor John Glidden III
Islip Benjamin Galletto (i)
Frederick Hermann
Islip Terrace James Featherston (i)
Gerald Gugel (i)
Jamesport Edward Collins (i)
Kings Park James Starke
Lake Ronkonkoma Richard Lutz
Lakeland Thomas Hughes (i)
Manorville Frank Randazzo (i)
Richard Schmidt (4)
Mastic Beach Raymond Troccola (i)
William Biondi (4)
Mastic Alfred Warren (i)
Mattituck David Haas
Medford Joseph Stefano (i)
Richard Piquette (2)
Melville Gerard McDonald (i)
Middle Island Anthony Catania (i)
Miller Place Larry Fischer (i)
Montauk Tom Dess (i)
Mount Sinai Joseph Tacopina (i)
Nesconset James Goelz (i)
Ed Swenson
North Patchogue Thomas Wassmer
North Sea Ed DiMonda (i)
Orient Not supplied by district
Patchogue Michael Greco Jr.
Port Jefferson Thomas Totten
Ridge Gerard Mc Nulty Jr.
Riverhead William Bilski (i)
Rocky Point John Buchner
Saint James Ed Kaleita (i)
Sayville Edward Carpenter Jr. (i)
Selden RIchard Napolitano
Setauket James Hubbard
Shelter Island William Hallman
Smithtown Padraig O’Brien
Sound Beach John Marino
Southold WIlliam Salmon (4)
Carlisle Cochran
Springs Patrick Glennon
Stony Brook Dennis Callahan (i)
Terryville Charles McCarren (i)
Wading River Matthew Wallace (i)
West Babylon Joseph Arcuri
West Islip Jeffrey Kempf (i)
W. Sayville-Oakdale Thomas McNamara
Westhampton Beach Arma Andon (i)
Yaphank Pat Accardi
Proposition results
District: Proposition Pass
Brookhaven: Proposition to consolidate capital reserve fund accounts. N/A
Flanders: Proposition to allow active volunteer firefighters to earn credit beyond the age of 60 for the pension program (LOSAP). Y
Gordon Heights: Proposition to buy a $260,000 fire truck. N
Hauppauge: Proposition to allow active volunteer firefighters to earn credit beyond the age of 60 for the pension program (LOSAP). Y
Hicksville: Proposition authorizing the sale of a pumper truck. Y
North Merrick: Proposition to allow active volunteer firefighters to earn credit beyond the age of 60 for the pension program (LOSAP). Y
Patchogue: Proposition to allow active volunteer firefighters to earn credit beyond the age of 60 for the pension program (LOSAP). Y
Syosset:
Proposition to sell a heavy rescue truck. Y
Proposition to purchase radio equipment for $2.6 million over a 10-year term. N
West Hempstead: Proposition to allow active volunteer firefighters to earn credit beyond the age of 60 for the pension program (LOSAP). Y
West Sayville-Oakdale: Proposition to allow active volunteer firefighters to earn credit beyond the age of 60 for the pension program (LOSAP). Y
Yaphank: Proposition to allow active volunteer firefighters to earn credit beyond the age of 60 for the pension program (LOSAP). Y