Fire commissioner elections decided

A Gordon Heights fire commissioner who has advocated for dissolving the fire district survived a challenge last night from a former commissioner who supports the Suffolk County district, which has Long Island's highest fire taxes.

The win by Maryanne Owens, seen as a district renegade when she first won a seat last year, was fitting on a day in which at least 11 incumbents were ousted in district elections across Long Island.

The votes, held in 126 fire districts, selected commissioners who set tax levies and collectively control more than $300 million in annual spending.

The elections don't address budgets, as they do for school districts, though some districts this year offered propositions on pension credits and capital reserves. Fire commissioners also determine fire protection policies and buy equipment.

Long Island fire districts scrambled for this year's vote upon learning that new optical voting machines could not be readied in time after being impounded by court order as part of the recent general election recounts.

Districts also were prohibited by state law from using the old lever-style machines.

John Conklin, a state elections spokesman, has said that while the law contains no "enforcement" powers, using the old machines could open the districts to legal challenges.

Most fire districts in Nassau opted to use paper ballots. In Suffolk, most districts used the old voting machines.

Last week, 90 Suffolk districts had placed orders to rent lever machines from the county elections board. Twenty canceled their orders before the vote, the Suffolk elections board said. In Gordon Heights, voters cast paper ballots.

Owens has called for a public hearing to dissolve the district, whose 900 homes have an average per-household fire tax bill of more than $1,300. Opponent Chesley Ruffin said response times would suffer if the district merged with another.

"Our quest for equitable taxes continues," Owens said.

In Middle Island, voters used paper ballots to select Craig Tunjian over Rudy Fusco. Officials said they planned to use lever machines, but their attorney recommended using paper to conform with state law.

Many commissioners ran unopposed. But at least 11 incumbents were ousted.

In Brentwood, former chief John J. Carney beat Thomas F. Richards. Patrick Fazio knocked off incumbent Robert Ingram in Commack, and Copiague incumbent Bob McGrath lost to Art Steigert. Challenger Jerry Nappi upended Les Saltzman in Franklin Square & Munson, where George Fahrbach also beat Frank Cutolo and Chris Baktis for an open seat.

John Faracco beat incumbent Anthony Maieli in Islip Terrace, and Christopher Triolo defeated incumbent James Starke in Kings Park. In the Manhasset-Lakeville Fire/Water District, challenger Donald P. O'Brien defeated incumbent Rodolfo Barranco.

In Melville, incumbent Gerard McDonald lost to Andy Rolleri Jr. In North Merrick, Kevin J. O'Hara was defeated by challenger and ex-chief Robert Ellensohn, and in Wading River, challenger Mike Harrigan defeated Matt Wallace. In Syosset, incumbent Christian Pieper lost to Rohit Dhawan.

In Coram, 25-year commissioner Vandorn Johnson held on to his seat after a challenge from a volunteer firefighter who said the district needed more fiscal control and greater racial diversity.

Eric Spronz had cited a June state comptroller's report that charged the district with violating state bidding law. Johnson last night said voters agree he "is doing the right thing by the community."

Other results:

In Bay Shore, Richard O. Christie beat Michael C. Price. In Centereach, incumbent Joe R. Garcia III defeated Raymond Catapanp.

In Central Islip, Charles R. Doyle beat Richard Johnson Jr. In Inwood, Charles Borfitz defeated Anthony Rivelli.

In Islip, Owen McCaffrey beat Robert Powers. In Rocky Point, John Buchner beat challenger Joseph Titone.

In Sayville, Christopher Bailey beat Mark Frappied. In Stony Brook, incumbent Dennis Callahan beat Vincent Franco. In the Plainvew Water District, incumbent Joel Kessler defeated John C. Tassone.