Fire commissioners elections on Tuesday

On Tuesday, residents in the Atlantic Beach, Hewlett, Inwood, Meadowmere, North Lawrence and Woodmere fire districts could vote for fire commissioners.
This year there are contested elections in the Inwood and Atlantic Beach fire districts. All terms are five years and begin on Jan. 1.
A fire district is an autonomous, independent from the towns in which they are located, established for the primary purpose of providing fire protection and responding to certain other types of emergencies. Governed by an elected board of fire commissioners, the district has authority to levy taxes and incur debt generally without approval from any other governmental entity. Fire district boundaries sometimes cross town and county lines.
Two longtime members of the Inwood Fire Department are vying for the commissioner post. Incumbent Thomas Pandalfo is running for his second term. Pandolfo is being challenged by Thomas Lynch.
Pandolfo, a firefighters since 1981, rose through the fire department’s ranks and became a chief 11 years ago. “We have a good working team together on the board and I am looking to continue that,” he said. “We are working to keep taxes low, get more bang for the buck and we are doing pretty good at that.”

Lynch, a 40-year member of the fire department, previously served as a commissioner for 16 years about a decade ago. He views the current board of commissioners being at odds at times. “It seems like a divided board,” Lynch said. “[I want] to bring some stability to the fire district. I would try to work things out.”
Voting is at the firehouse at 188 Doughty Blvd. in Inwood from 6 to 9 p.m.
Sitting Atlantic Beach Fire District Commissioner Julian Goldstein is running for his fifth term. He is also a 32-year member of the Atlantic Beach Rescue Squad. Goldstein is being opposed by Nat Etrog, a 15-year member of the rescue squad. The fire district procures equipment for the rescue squad and contracts with the Long Beach Fire Department for fire protection services.
“I’m under my belief that I have done a lot of good during the 20 I have been a commissioner,” Goldstein said, pointing to his work with the board to obtain emergency vehicles through the years along with being involved in all that was needed to construct the fire rescue headquarters.
A past Atlantic Beach village trustee, deputy mayor and parks commissioner Etrog has been a rescue squad captain for the past three years and believes the commissioner post is a natural progression. “I’m moving away from a line officer position as there other people in the rescue squad ready for that position,” Etrog said. “I would still be a member, but I would continue to be in a position of leadership as a commissioner.”
Goldstein said the district is doing a good job of securing the equipment and services it needs and hasn’t raised taxes in 12 years. “I have the experience and my experience shouldn’t be wasted,” he said. Goldstein and the board are currently working on replacing the Hummer and are in negotiations with two vehicle-producing companies.
Etrog also touts his administrative experience as vice president of the psychiatry department at St. John’s Episcopal Hospital and believes new eyes are needed. “I am looking to continue the same level of service without raising taxes with expenses what they are.”
Voting is at rescue squad headquarters at One Rescue Road from 6 to 9 p.m.

Uncontested elections
Daniel Weisner, a past commissioner, is running unchallenged in the Hewlett Bay Fire District. Incumbent John Caracciolio is not seeking re-election. Voting at the firehouse at 25 Franklin Ave. in Hewlett from 5 to 9 p.m.

Mitchell Froelich is running unopposed in the Woodmere Fire District. Voting is at the firehouse at 20 Irving Place from 6 to 9 p.m. Incumbent Steve McFadden isn’t being challenged in Meadowmere. Voting is at the firehouse, 14 Meyer Ave., Meadowmere Park from 6 to 9 p.m. Voting for the North Lawrence Fire District is at Five Towns Community Center at 270 Lawrence Ave. in Lawrence from 6 to 9 p.m.