Nassau fire district vote preview

Voters in more than 120 fire districts across Long Island will go to the polls Tuesday to select commissioners who collectively control more than $320 million in spending and set tax levies.

The districts are independent public taxing agencies and their commissioners collect no salaries. The commissioners are responsible for drafting district budgets, determining fire protection policies and buying equipment.

The districts raise operating funds mostly through property taxes.

Residents in Tuesday's elections do not vote for budgets as they do in school district elections; fire district budgets were adopted by the boards of commissioners last month.

Following a 2005 Newsday series that revealed excessive and unaccountable spending by some fire districts, state laws were enacted mandating more transparency in district operations, including having all districts hold elections on the second Tuesday in December.

A handful of barrier beach districts in Suffolk County -- Ocean Bay Park, Davis Park, Cherry Grove and Fire Island Pines, for example -- were allowed to hold elections in July.

More than 180 candidates are running this year for more than 130 district commissioner seats up for grabs.

Following is district-by-district information about budgets adopted by commissioners for 2013, the names of candidates running, and polling times for Nassau County districts. Information on Suffolk County districts can be found here: http://www.newsday.com/long-island/suffolk/suffolk-fire-district-vote-preview-1.4311974.

For polling locations, check district websites or call the districts.

& MUNSON

LAKEVIEW

Lakeview adopted a $1.2 million budget that is a 2.6 percent increase over the current year's budget. Incumbent Fredrick George Senti Jr. is running uncontested. Voting is from 6 to 9 p.m.

LIDO AND POINT LOOKOUT

Lido and Point Lookout adopted a $881,760 budget that is unchanged from the current year's budget. Bernard Paz and Harold Wondsel are vying for one seat. Voting is from 4 to 9 p.m.

LOCUST VALLEY

Locust Valley adopted a $1.65 million budget that is an 8.4 percent decrease from the current year's budget. Commissioner William Eliseo is stepping down, and John Kinta and Paul Long are vying for the seat. Incumbent Peter Olson is running uncontested for a second seat. Voting is from 6 to 9 p.m.

MANHASSET-LAKEVILLE

Manhasset-Lakeville adopted a $6.95 million budget that is a 7.53 percent increase over the current year's budget. Incumbent Commissioner Brian J. Morris is running uncontested. Voting is from 3 to 9 p.m.

MASSAPEQUA

Massapequa adopted a $5.86 million budget that is a 2 percent increase over the current year's budget. Michael Gange is running uncontested for the seat vacated by Denis Molloy. Voting is from 2 to 9 p.m.

MEADOWMERE PARK

Meadowmere adopted a $647,401 budget that is a 6.3 percent decrease from the current year's budget. Incumbent Edward Samuelson is running uncontested. Voting is from 6 to 9 p.m.

NEW HYDE PARK

New Hyde Park adopted a $3.71 million budget that is a 2.99 percent increase over the current year's budget. Incumbent John Brown has two challengers: John Waldron and John Niewender. Voting is from 1 to 9 p.m.

NORTH BELLMORE

North Bellmore adopted a $4.67 million budget that is a 3.1 percent increase over the current year's budget. Robert Bazarewski and Edward Kraus are vying for one seat. Voting is from 3 to 9 p.m.

NORTH MASSAPEQUA

North Massapequa adopted a $2.17 million budget that is a roughly $2,000 decrease from the current year's budget. Commissioner Nicholas Paolucci is running uncontested. Voting is from 4 to 9 p.m.

NORTH MERRICK

North Merrick adopted a $2.15 million budget that is a 2.39 percent increase over the current year's budget. Paul Wilders is running uncontested. Voting is from 2 to 9 p.m.

OCEANSIDE

Oceanside adopted a $5.3 million budget that is a 3.29 percent increase over the current year's budget. Gary Fish and Biagio Rosano are vying for one seat. Voting is from 3 to 9 p.m.

ROOSEVELT

Roosevelt adopted a $2.07 million budget that is a 2.1 percent increase over the current year's budget. Incumbent Tracy Bowdwin is running uncontested. Voting is from 2 to 9 p.m.

SEAFORD

Seaford adopted a $1.78 million budget that is a 0.69 percent increase over the current year's budget. Robert T. Powell is running uncontested for one seat. Voting is from 6 to 9 p.m.

SOUTH FARMINGDALE

South Farmingdale adopted a $1.61 million budget that is a decrease of about $1,800 from the current year's budget. Incumbent Richard Bylicki is being challenged by John Boklak. Voting is from 4 to 9 p.m.

SOUTH HEMPSTEAD

South Hempstead adopted a $761,592 budget that is a 1.8 percent increase over the current year's budget. Incumbent Paul Cartier is running uncontested. Voting is from 6 to 9 p.m.

SYOSSET

The Syosset Fire District adopted a $7.47 million budget that is a 2.8 percent increase over the current year's budget. Thomas Feeney and Richard Meinhardt are vying for the seat being vacated by Roy Brouillard. Voting is from 2 to 9 p.m.

UNIONDALE

Uniondale adopted a $4.14 million budget that is unchanged from the current year's budget. Felix Guerra and Anthony Lebron are vying to fill a two-year term, while incumbent Noel Thomas and challenger James Russell are vying for a five-year term. Voting is from 2 to 9 p.m.

WANTAGH

Wantagh adopted a $6.58 million budget that is a 1.12 percent increase over the current year's budget. Incumbent Jay R. Cohen is being challenged by David B. Goetz. Voting is from 2 to 9 p.m.

WEST HEMPSTEAD

West Hempstead adopted a $1.08 million budget that is a 2.06 percent decrease from the current year's budget. Incumbent Susan Scognamiglio is being challenged by Avraham Z. Rosman. Voting is from 4 to 9 p.m.

WESTBURY

Westbury adopted a $3.72 million budget that is a 1.57 percent increase over the current year's budget. Incumbent Vincent Abbatiello is running uncontested. Voting is from 2 to 9 p.m.

WOODMERE

Woodmere adopted a $2.23 million budget that is unchanged from the current year's budget. Incumbent David Miller is running uncontested. Voting is from 6 to 9 p.m.

Reported by Aisha Al-Muslim, Jennifer Barrios, Denise M. Bonilla, Sophia Chang, Scott Eidler, Mitchell Freedman, Nicole Fuller, Deon J. Hampton, Lauren R. Harrison, Mackenzie Issler, Carl MacGowan, Deborah S. Morris, Emily Ngo, Candice Ruud, Nicholas Spangler and Patrick Whittle