Robert Cox elected mayor of Saltaire

Residents in the Fire Island community of Saltaire elected Robert Cox III as their mayor during a Friday village election.

Cox received 86 votes. His opponent, Hugh O'Brien III, received 79.

The race hinged on plans for the tiny community's commercial strip, which includes a grocery and liquor store.

The village hired a consulting firm in November to assess the village's two stores located at 100 Broadway Walk. The owners have been trying to sell the grocery store for months.

Each candidate was waiting for the firm's report and each argued that his experience made him most qualified to find the right solution.

Cox attended Colgate University and New York Law School. He worked for 30 years in financial services, the last 15 as a senior executive and general counsel for Citicorp's Global Consumer Business. He lives in Garden City and Saltaire.

In the race for two trustee seats, incumbent Bruce A. Rich retained his seat with 134 votes, while John A. Zaccaro Jr. received 105 to win the second seat. Stephen Hennessey received 66 votes and Noel Feustel received 10.

The mayor's and trustees' terms are for two years. The winners will be sworn in Monday.