Voters in the New Hyde Park, Garden City Park and Manhasset-Lakeville fire and water districts will go to the polls next Tuesday to vote in contested races in each of those districts that feature candidates challenging established incumbents.
In New Hyde Park, two-term incumbent Rick Stein faces off against Anthony Vaglica, both former department chiefs. In Garden City Park, three-term incumbent Augie Carnevale is up against civic activist Jerome Galluscio, who has no formal ties to the local volunteer fire service. In the Manhasset-Lakeville Fire and Water District Commissioner Andrew DeMartin is running for re-election against challengers John Nash, Joseph Renta, and Daniel Ross.
Vaglica said he is running on his record of 24 years of service as a volunteer New Hyde Park department prior to his termination, including a term as chief of the department, along with budgeting skills since he runs a successful local construction company. He also cites his community activities, which include his membership in the New Hyde Park Dad’s Club and his financial support for the Gladiator’s Fund, the Cons of Italy Cellini Lodge and the Nassau County Firefighters Operation Wounded Warriors.
Stein, a 39-year veteran of the New Hyde Park Fire Department who served for 20 years as a deputy safety inspector for the New York City Fire Department, points to his record of cost-cutting in the district and his facility for getting grant money as reasons that he should be returned to the post by the voters.
One $96,000 federal grant provided for paramedic training, as well as upgrades to the firehouse and fire-fighting equipment. A $6,000 county grant secured through Nassau County Legislator Richard Nicolello enabled the department to purchase new gas detectors.
Stein and Vaglica have traded barbs about misusing official departmental vehicles.
Vaglica, who owns VAR Home Improvements, has defended his conducted as volunteer in the New Hyde Park Fire Department when he was terminated in 2009 because of conduct “unbecoming a member.”
He said the fire commissioners were jealous of him because he owns a successful construction company.
Vaglica has charged Stein with “double-dipping” for length-of-service payments with the New Hyde Park Fire Department and a volunteer fire service on Fire Island. Stein said he is active in both departments, but has not accepted length-of-service payments from the Fire Island department.
In the Garden City Park race, Galluscio who is an aide to the Republican caucus in the Nassau County Legislature, cites a record of civic activism as a further testament to his credentials, including membership in the local Kiwanis Club, the Sons of Italy Cellini Lodge, the Herricks PTA, and the Special Education Parent Teachers Association. Galluscio said he served as volunteer firefighter when he lived in Centerport years ago, noting that medical problems prevent him from being a volunteer in the Garden City Park Fire Department.
Carnevale, a former chief of that district’s fire department and an advanced emergency medical technician, cited his record of keeping firefighters well trained and well equipped. Last year, the fire district acquired new portable two radios and self-contained breathing apparatuses for the Garden City Park Fire Department. He also points to fulfilling promises to fight the incursion of big oil companies that polluted an area in the district now being cleaned up by the state Department of Environmental Conservation with the resulting $1.5 settlement received by the district last year.
Galluscio and Carnevale have clashed over the current month-long test of sirens for all emergency calls. Galluscio said the test, an annoyance to neighbors within earshot of the Denton Avenue substation, was Carnevale’s idea. Carnevale said the siren test was Garden City Park Fire Department Chief William Rudnick’s idea.
Galluscio has acknowledged that he had his license to practice law suspended for two year in July 2007 based on nine charges of judicial misconduct filed by the Grievance Committee for the Tenth Judicial District in January 2006. He said he has learned from the mistakes he made when he ran his law practice.
Commissioners in the Garden City Park district are paid a $100 per diem for each district meeting they attend.
Voting in the Garden City Park district will take place on Dec. 13 in the Garden City Fire Department’s headquarters at 2264 Jericho Turnpike in Garden City Park and in the Denton Avenue Elementary School at 1050 Denton Ave. in Garden City Park between 4:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Voting in the New Hyde Park district also will be held on Dec. 13 in the New Hyde Park Fire Department headquarters at 1555 Jericho Turnpike from 1 p.m. to p.m.
After serving on the Manhasset-Lakeville Fire and Water District Board of Commissioners since 2008, DeMartin has been campaigning over the past few months to retain his seat.
The 28-year veteran firefighter has held several positions within the Great Neck Vigilant Fire Company including stints as fire chief, and chairman of the department’s board of trustees. DeMartin is also the Town of North Hempstead Commissioner of Public Safety.
Nash, who is a Navy veteran and has been a partner at a Garden City law firm since 1980, is looking to use his business experience to his advantage if elected to the board. He has been a volunteer with the Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Department Company No. 2 since 2004.
A resident of the district for the past 20 years, Renta is looking to capitalize upon his lengthy history as a community leader if elected to the board of commissioners.
Renta has been an employee of the Garden City Park Water and Fire District for more than two decades and is currently president of the Merillon Athletic Association, a past grand knight with the New Hyde Park Knights of Columbus and is a member of the Notre Dame Roman Catholic Church pastoral staff.
Ross is a graduate of Manhasset High School and Hofstra’s Frank G. Zarb School of Business, who has worked in the international financial sector, where he co-founded DarkHorse Investors, a registered non-rofit company intended to assist entrepreneurs.
He has been volunteering with the Manhasset-Lakeville Fire Department for nearly 10 years and is currently the department’s first lieutenant.
The Manhasset-Lakeville Fire and Water District is comprised of the villages of Russell Gardens, Thomaston, Lake Success and the southern portion of Great Neck Plaza. It also serves the villages of North Hills, Munsey Park, Plandome Manor, Plandome Heights and Flower Hill.
Voters will be eligible to visit the polls from 3 p.m. until 9 p.m. on Tuesday at one of four locations based upon where their they reside. Those locations are the Company No. 1 firehouse on Bayview Avenue, the Company No. 3 firehouse on Prospect Street, the Company No. 4 firehouse on Jayson Avenue and the Company No. 5 firehouse on 78th Avenue in New Hyde Park.
Candidates are vying for a three-year term, which begins on Jan. 1. Commissioners are allowed to collect a $100 per diem rate when on district business and are also eligible to receive New York health benefits and participate in the state’s pension system for their service with the board.
