Voters in local fire districts will go to the polls Tuesday night to elect new commissioners and other district officials in some cases.
Polls in each district will be open from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Here is a look at the elections in Blue Point and West Sayville:
WEST SAYVILLE
There is one five-year commissioner position and one three-year treasurer position on the election ballot this year.
The two candidates for the positions are incumbents and running unopposed.
Joseph Mandanici, an incumbent commissioner, is chairman of the board of commissioners and served as a chief during his 40 years of service to the department.
“I’ve been through the ranks, and I’ve worked hard with the rest of the board in the past five years to maintain our budget and have no tax increases," he told Patch. "And we’ve done that not just me, but the entire board, working well together.”
Robert Cummings is seeking re-election as treasurer, a position he has held for 25 years.
“There are very few districts that have an elected treasurer,” explained Cummings, who is also a volunteer firefighter. “By our having it that way, it gives the public a better seat at the table. I enjoy it and I think it’s important to maintain continuity.”
There are two polling places for the West Sayville Fire District. Residents living west of Locust Avenue should vote at Station 1 (Oakdale station), 1201 Montauk Highway. Residents living east of Locust Avenue should vote at the fire department headquarters located at 80 Main Street, West Sayville.
BLUE POINT
There are two candidates for the one five-year term in the Blue Point Fire District. The seat is being vacated by a current commissioner.
Warren McDowell, former publisher of the Fire Island Tide, said he is running for office in order to “give people a say in how our taxes are spent.” It is his first commissioner election try.
He is facing off against Mike Dollop, who is making his second run for the fire commissioner position since losing narrowly to Bruce Bastiaanse in 2010. In a prepared statement, Dollop encouraged the public to vote.
Voters can vote at the Blue Point Firehouse at 205 Blue Point Avenue.
