Gentile defeats Waldron in New Hyde Park Fire commissioner race

Rebecca Klar
Nicolello handed out packages of surgical masks to seniors on Tuesday at the New Hyde Park Fire House. (Photo courtesy of New Hyde Park Fire Department)

Ernest Gentile was elected New Hyde Park Fire District commissioner with 452 votes.

Gentile beat incumbent John Waldron, who received 296 votes.

Gentile is a veteran New York City Fire Department officer, and was a former captain in Fire Rescue in the New Hyde Park Fire Department, he said.

Gentile also served on the New Hyde Park-Garden City Park Board of Education for 10 years, and was president for six, he said.

Gentile said in a previous interview with Blank Slate Media that he has no plan to leave his position on the school board.

James Romagnoli was also elected commissioner, with 438 votes, to finish out the last year of his term.  There are five commissioners for the district.

Romagnoli was appointed to take the spot in January after James Nagy’s death.

Romagnoli said he ran because he gave his word that he would finish out the last two years of the term, and because he’s enjoying the work he’s doing as commissioner.

“We’re in the middle of some very exciting projects in the district … I would like to see a lot of them through,” Romagnoli said in a previous interview with Blank Slate Media. “I’m in a good place, having a good time.”

The fire district, which serves the Village of New Hyde Park and unincorporated areas in North New Hyde Park, has a 2018 budget of almost $4.3 million, according to the Town of North Hempstead 2018 budget.

Garden City Park Water and Fire District also elected a commissioner. Peter Chimenti, who ran unopposed was re-elected with 101 of the 105 votes cast. There were three write in votes and one no vote cast.

The district covers Garden City Park, Manhasset Hills, and parts of New Hyde Park, Mineola, North Hills, Roslyn, Williston Park, Albertson and Garden City.

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