Many fire district incumbents win re-election

Voters overwhelmingly re-elected incumbents in three dozen contested fire district elections Tuesday.

More than 130 fire districts across Long Island held elections for commissioners, though most of the races were uncontested. The positions are unpaid, but fire district commissioners control budgets that total more than $300 million on Long Island.

In Selden, 201 votes were cast, said district manager Jay Egan. "It was down a little bit because of the weather," he said. Incumbent Robert McConville defeated Roderick Davidson.

In Farmingville, incumbent John J. Caputo defeated former Commissioner Robert W. Wallace. Former Fire Chief Thomas Colitti defeated incumbent James Meier in Wading River.

In Centereach, former Commissioner Daniel Peluso defeated incumbent Dominick D'Onofrio, and Thomas Doyle beat incumbent Scott Jordan.

In East Quogue, Jennifer Davonski defeated Robert Despres in her first run for commissioner. Davonski, the former lead paramedic for the department, said she wanted to focus on "making sure we keep going with giving the quality care that we do now."

In Huntington Manor, incumbent Carlo Conte defeated Bedel Saget. In Lido/Point Lookout, incumbent Steven Weitz beat Maria Aramanda.

In Halesite, incumbent Craig Lanigan defeated Lucy Oppenheim.

In Bohemia, incumbent Frank Wilhelmy defeated John Cardillo. Former commissioner and current volunteer firefighter Anthony Maieli defeated Peter Spina III in Islip Terrace. In Southampton, incumbent David Price defeated Rodney C. Pierson, a former fire department chief. In Hicksville, incumbent Robert J. Lang defeated Chris Fotopoulos.

In East Moriches, John Leuthardt defeated William Natoli and former Commissioner James Romanowski.

In Bethpage, former Commissioner Vincent Valente defeated incumbent Joseph Minogue. In New Hyde Park, Stephen Derenze defeated incumbent Michael Dolan Sr. In St. James, Roy Bradshaw defeated Gerald Varricchio. In Massapequa, incumbent Michael Hanna defeated Charles Mackie, and Joseph Giordano defeated Steven Zimmerman.

In Gordon Heights, incumbent Alex Hanson defeated former Commissioner Chesley Ruffin. High taxes in the 1.7-square-mile residential district have spurred some residents in recent years to try to dissolve the district. "I look forward to continuing on the path to improve safety and keep costs down, and do all the improvements all the way across the board," Hanson said.

In East Northport, Raymond Teiner defeated incumbent Robert Sagistano. In Inwood, incumbent Thomas Pandolfo defeated Thomas Lynch. In North Merrick, incumbent Gregory Smith defeated Sean Kelleher.

In Brentwood, John C. Spadaro defeated Christopher M. Lockwood, Manuel Troche and Michael P. O'Malley. In Holbrook, Richard Gimbl defeated incumbent Joel Vetter. In Manhasset-Lakeville, Mark Sauvigne defeated Lisanne Guzzetta Altmann.

In Bellport, incumbent Martine Satterley defeated Steve Mackin. In West Babylon, incumbent John Manzi defeated Vincent Senzamici. In Kings Park, Michael DeSaro defeated incumbent Ronald Hobel. In Medford, former Commissioner William J. Hart Jr. defeated incumbent Richard D. Coleman and Russell Schwartz. In Ridge, incumbent Pat Pirozzi defeated Kevin Leedham. In Garden City Park, Peter Chimenti defeated incumbent Augustine Carnevale.

With Lauren R. Harrison

and Valerie Bauman