Lean more about your candidates running for fire commissioner in the Five Towns

Residents in a few Five Towns fire districts and Atlantic Beach can go to their respective headquarters and vote for commissioners on Dec. 12.

A fire district is established to provide fire protection and responses to emergencies. It is a political entity with an elected governing body, administrative officers and sets a budget. A fire district has the power both to incur indebtedness and to require the levy of taxes. It purchases the equipment the fire department needs.

Atlantic Beach Fire Rescue

Robin Trott, the first female commissioner of Atlantic Beach, is running for re-election, unopposed. Trott, an Atlantic Beach resident, has been a member of fire rescue for 24 years, holding various positions including secretary, treasurer and chairman of the board of directors. Her time as an emergency medical technician goes back 23 years, but Trott said she is pulling back from those tasks and hopes to continue helping the district as a commissioner.

“I can still serve the community and that’s what’s really important to me,” Trott said.

She was appointed and elected as commissioner, finishing out the five-year term of Steve Spelman.

Trott is eager to continue her work within the district, which she has seen expand in supplies and contribution to surrounding areas like Long Beach and Freeport.

“Going into the next term, I’m really going to look to see how I can grow as a professional also and keep up with the technology and the needs of the community,” Trott said.

Voting is at Atlantic Beach Fire Rescue, 1 Rescue Road, Atlantic Beach, from 6 to 9 p.m.

Hewlett Bay Fire District

Joseph Whitney is also running for re-election, unchallenged in the upcoming commissioner race.

Whitney is a 33-year member of the Hewlett Fire Department and hopes to continue the work set in place during his current term, he said.

“What I’m looking to do is continue with our present pathway, we’re in a really good spot,” Whitney said. “We’re not a burden to the taxpayers, we take our judiciary responsibility very seriously, try to manage the fire district in a fashion that will take care of the taxpayer but also provide our members with the equipment necessary to provide the fire protection that’s so vital to those taxpayers who we serve.”

Voting is at the Hewlett firehouse, 25 Franklin Ave., Hewlett, from 6 to 9 p.m.

Inwood Fire District

Dominic Andreno is seeking re-election for the five-year term and is being opposed by Mark Rolon.

Andreno, a member of the fire department since 1977, has held a variety of different positions in the department. He won the seat for commissioner in 2018 defeating former George Miller Sr.

Andreno said he wants to continue being a commissioner to work on the upcoming firehouse renovation plan.

“I’ve been involved with it since last year,” he said. “I’d like to continue being active on getting the building done and plus the new ladder with buildings around town getting higher.”

A $4.8 million bond was passed in February 2022 for a proposed 2,900-square-foot expansion of the existing firehouse. The timeframe remains unclear.

Rolon, a 43-year member of the fire department, also served in a variety of positions, serving as a lieutenant, captain, assistant chief, chief of department and was previously a fire commissioner from 2007 to 2017.

Voting is at the Inwood firehouse, 188 Doughty Blvd., Inwood, from 6 to 9 p.m.

Meadowmere Park Fire District

As of press time, representatives of Meadowmere Park did not respond to calls.

Residents can also vote on the proposed referendum authorizing the fire district to amend the district’s service awards program that consists of a defined benefit program by lowering the entitlement from 65 to 62 effective Jan. 1. The total administrative cost of the amendment is $2,200

Voting for those candidates will be held at the Meadowmere Firehouse at 14 Meyer Ave., Lawrence from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

North Lawrence Fire District

Three fire commissioners are seeking re-election in the district.

Ari Shapiro, Joel Krinsky and Pinchas Faska are seeking another one-year term after all winning last year to help fill the void after three of the commissioners Gary Caparelli, John Pescatori and Thomas Vairo all resigned.

Faska is a six-year resident of North Lawrence and works in administrative health care.

Shapiro, a five-year resident of North Lawrence, also serves as the treasurer of a local synagogue. He served in the past as a fireman, the Coast Guard and was a volunteer for the North Lawrence Citizens Patrol.

15-year North Lawrence resident Krinsky, owns a local car body shop.

Woodmere Fire District

David Stern, the incumbent commissioner in Woodmere Fire District is running for reelection, unchallenged. Stern has served as an EMT and active firefighter in the Woodmere department for 29 years.

The Woodmere resident first ran for the position in 2003, and has served as commissioner for 20 years since.

“It’s a big part of my ethos to serve and help the community protect itself,” he said.

In the upcoming five-year term, Stern hopes to continue protecting the district’s technology, he said. During his last term, he helped head a partnership with homeland security to improve cyber security.

“Today, the fire district and the fire department relies heavily on technology in every aspect,” Stern said. “The cyber security threat landscape is incredibly dangerous and it was a project of mine to start to upgrade and improve cyber security, so I look into the future continuing to grow our technology.”

Voting is at Woodmere firehouse, 20 Irving Place, Woodmere, from 6 to 9 p.m.