Robert Ellensohn voted new North Merrick fire commissioner

Robert Ellensohn was elected the new North Merrick fire commissioner last Tuesday, defeating incumbent Kevin O’Hara.

Ellensohn, 56, won the Dec. 14 vote with 345 votes to O'Hara's 224.

A lifelong Merrick resident, Ellensohn is a former chief of the North Merrick Fire Department, serving from 1995 to 1996. He is a trustee and past president of the Exempts Association, and has been associated with the North Merrick Fire Department for 32 years.

“I was very happy,” Ellensohn said. “And I’m prepared to do whatever I have to do to make the taxpayers happy, as well as the members of the department.”

His father, Walter, is a former department chief, and is a past commissioner of the North Merrick Fire District. His son Brian is first lieutenant of Engine Company Number Two. Ellensohn’s wife, Gina, is a trustee of the North Merrick Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary.

Ellensohn will begin serving his five-year term in early January, when he will be sworn into his new position.