Fire commissioner election too close to call

The outcome of the Oceanside election for fire commissioner remains in doubt a week after the election and may be decided, district officials say, by 47 affidavit ballots that have to be vetted and then counted before a decision can by announced. On Mon., Dec. 16, officials for the fire district were told that the votes would probably be counted by the following day, after the Oceanside/Island Park Herald had gone to press.

“When the certified ballots were counted on the night of Dec. 10, Charles Fortin had 371 votes and Michael Graham had 362 votes — a difference of nine votes,” said Anthony Iovino, the attorney for the fire district. “There were also 47 affidavit ballots, and those ballots could change the outcome of the election.”

Iovino explained that the 47 voters were not on the official rolls provided by the Board of Elections, but that they reported that they lived in the fire district, so they were allowed to vote by affidavit ballot. The Town of Hempstead will have to check on all 47 to see if they are indeed residents in the Oceanside Fire District. If so, their votes will be counted. If not, they will be discarded.

“The roll book provided for us is not always 100 percent accurate. We don’t know which of those 47 or how many of those 47 will actually be valid votes,” Iovino said. “There are some people who don’t live in Oceanside that are in the fire district and others who live in Oceanside who are not in the district. The process of checking them and counting them could take hours, days, or even weeks.”

Fortin, 63, the incumbent, is a lifelong Oceanside resident with three grown children. He currently lives in the community with his wife and two sons. He and his wife are grandparents of their daughter’s two children. Her family lives in Oceanside as well, Fortin says.

“During my campaign for election in 2008 to this position, I stressed the fact that as an Oceanside resident, homeowner and taxpayer, I was aware of the fiscal challenges that many of my neighbors were facing,” Fortin said. “I promised fiscal prudence would be a top priority. I am proud to say that this challenge has been met head on by me and my fellow commissioners. As a group, we remain vigilant, and have the record to prove it.”

Michael Graham, 28, the challenger, was born and raised in Oceanside, and is an Oceanside High School graduate.

“Throughout my years in Oceanside I have helped various community efforts including delivering food and toys to those in need, educating the community about fire prevention and supporting numerous community organizations,” Graham says.

He joined the Oceanside Fire Department in 2003 and has held the position of Lieutenant and Captain.

“I served as Captain during one of the most difficult times for the Oceanside Fire Department, Hurricane Sandy,” he says. “I spent countless hours leading members as we handled the seemingly endless stream of calls from the residents of Oceanside looking for help.”

In another local race, Incumbent John Garthaffner and Anthony Neglia ran unopposed in the Barnum Island Fire District race.