Challenger Steve Reiter defeated incumbent Jane Rebhuhn in Tuesday’s election for Great Neck Water Pollution Control District commissioner.
Reiter, the owner of business consulting firm Creative Media LLC, bested the five-term commissioner by a margin of 240 votes to 199.
Reiter said in November he had experience dealing with wastewater issues as the chairman of the sewage treatment committee for the board of a condominium he owns in Montauk.
In seeking re-election, Rebhuhn cited her experience in guiding the district through its years-long reconstruction of its sewage treatment plant.
The district, which is responsible for water treatment in Great Neck, is currently renovating its sewage treatment plant to reduce levels of nitrogen dumping in the Long Island Sound, as mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Supporters of both Reiter and Rebhuhn sent letters to the Great Neck News in the weeks before the election, advocating for their favored candidate.
Neither Reiter nor Rebhuhn could be reached for comment.
Three other special districts in Great Neck also held uncontested votes, re-electing incumbent commissioners to new three-year terms.
Great Neck Park District commissioner Robert Lincoln won with 400 votes, with two write-in votes cast for Paul Sundick.
Manhasset-Lakeville Fire and Water District commissioner Brian Morris won a second term with 399 votes. Seven votes were voided, and a district spokesperson said two write-in votes were likely intended for the district’s simultaneous park district election and cast in error.
In the Belgrave Water Pollution Control District election, Commissioner Brian Levings won re-election. The district did not have vote totals available as of press time.
