Incumbents lead in fire district elections

Lilly and her husband Raymond Acevedo, of Medford, cast their... — Lilly and her husband Raymond Acevedo, of Medford, cast their vote at the Gordon Heights Fire Department. "We are not saving anything by moving the fire department," Raymond said. (December 13, 2011) Credit: Chris Ware

By SOPHIA CHANG AND PATRICK WHITTLE.sophia.chang@newsday.com,,patrick.whittle@newsday.comDecember 13, 2011

Opponents of the Gordon Heights fire district barely missed a chance to take control of its Board of Fire Commissioners in a dramatic election Tuesday.

Incumbent Avery Dean held his seat by a single vote, 271-270, and survived a challenge from Joyce Bourne.

Bourne and a group of residents who support a dramatic restructuring of the most-taxed fire district on Long Island -- the group at times has said the district should be dissolved -- had managed to get two of their own elected to the five-member board in 2009.

Dean called his win "a victory for the people of Gordon Heights" and added, "We want to remain as a fire district, intact, and not compromise at all."

A Bourne supporter, Gina Previte, said her camp would seek an independent review of the results. "We're not willing to throw away this election," she said.

In the 900-home district, where some homeowners pay more than $1,500 a year for protection, finances for years have been a subject of heated debate.

Here are winners in some other contested elections:

Meadowmere Park: Challenger Kevin Benet.

East Islip: Incumbent Thomas Drywa.

Medford: Charles Jagde, incumbent.

With Stacey Altherr

and Emily C. Dooley

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