By The Long Islander News staff
info@longislandergroup.com

Of the 11 fire districts across the Town of Huntington whose fire commissioners are elected, just one will open polls on Tuesday for a contested race.

The lone contested race is in Melville, incumbent James Coschignano has been challenged for his seat by Phillip Foundos. The candidates seek to be elected to a five-year term.

Coschignano is a lifelong Melville resident and has been a fire commissioner for the past 24 years. He is a retired operations manager for TRACON (Terminal Radar Approach Control Facility) for the Federal Aviation Administration.

“Although the Melville Fire District is the busiest in the Town of Huntington, our Fire Tax is among the lowest in the Town of Huntington,” Coschignano said. “This has been one of my personal priorities, and I am proud of it.”

Foundos could not be reached for comment before deadline Wednesday. However, in a letter published by the Half Hollow Hills Patch, Foundos states that he has been involved with the Melville Fire Department for the past 15 years and currently serves as an EMT and firefighter.

“I love volunteering in my community and helping neighbors in need,” stated Foundos, who added that he is the senior vice president and chief appraiser of a $40 billion bank. “I seek to continue serving the community, improving the department, and ensuring the health and safety of Melville by advocating for the residents and volunteer firefighters as a commissioner.”

Polls are set to open Dec. 13, 1-9 p.m. at 531 Sweet Hollow Road.

Other incumbents draw no challengers

Running unopposed for the five-year term at the Centerport Fire Department is incumbent Peter Gunther, who is the Town of Huntington’s Highway superintendent.

Currently a safety officer at the firehouse, Gunther, 61, has been a fire commissioner for 13 years has been with the Centerport Fire Department for 35 years. He said that his experience as a firefighter is a key aspect that he can bring to the board.

“I think that I have a vast knowledge and experience, including longevity in the fire service, that gives me the knowledge and the leadership to be able to make the right decisions for the taxpayers,” he said. “The seniority part in the experience is a big deal because it limits the expenses by having the proper knowledge to be able to make the right decisions.”

The election will be held at 9 Park Circle Drive in Centerport with polling hours from 3 p.m.-9 p.m.

Incumbent John Parker will be running unopposed for Cold Spring Harbor, and polls will be held at 2 Main Street in Cold Spring Harbor, from 6 p.m.-9 p.m.

In Commack, incumbent fire commissioner Jerome Quigley seeks reelection to the board.

Quigley, 44, who grew up in Commack, served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1990-1994. He was elected last year to an expiring term on the board of fire commissioners. This year, he seeks a five-year term.

Polls in Commack will be open Dec. 13, 3-9 p.m., at 6309 Jericho Turnpike.

In the Dix Hills Fire District, incumbent commissioner Robert Commisso is running unopposed for his second five-year term, which would begin on Jan. 1, 2017 and end on Dec. 31, 2021.

“When I came in five years ago, I ran on the platform of bringing financial control to this district,” said Commisso, a 37-year resident of Dix Hills.

He added that he had worked to revamp the entire accounting and budgeting system. Also, he engineered the financials behind the district’s bond project for the new headquarters, which he said has led to no tax increase for residents.

In an expected second term, he hopes to continue to monitoring the progress of the construction project to keep it in line with budgetary expectations.

Looking forward, he hopes to secure financials to replace two rescue engines that are “getting long in the tooth.” He said he has seen many other districts have to bond or go into debt to replace their trucks, but he believes he can help steer the district away from taking that path.

Commisso first started as a volunteer with the department in January 2003. He said he has been consistently voted as the most active firefighter in the district since that time, taking more than an estimated 8,000 fire calls.

“So, I’ve been kind of busy. I love doing it. I wouldn’t change anything,” he said.

The election will be held from 4-9 p.m. on Dec. 13 at the Dix Hills Headquarters Fire House located at 115 East Deer Park Road, Dix Hills.

Also running for his second term is incumbent East Northport fire commissioner Wayne Kaifler Sr., who is running unopposed. He was chief of the department in 2001 and 2002, and has served the department for a total of 33 years.

“Being an ex-chief, I’ve come to understand the needs of our firefighters,” Kaifler said. “As a taxpayer also in the district, i understand the cost of everything.”

A 60-year resident of East Northport, he’s worked most of his career in the asphalt paving business and construction business. He has been married for 40 years to his wife Patti and has three children, Wayne Jr., Matthew and Erica.

“Through perseverance and dedication, I promise to continue to provide our community with the best Fire and EMS protection available,” he stated. ‘If re-elected, I will continue to make an advantageous impact on our community as a whole. We must constantly set new goals and have the ambition to achieve them. The future is now.”

The election will take place at the East Northport Fire House at 1 9th Ave, East Northport from 3-9 p.m. on Dec. 13. The term would begin Jan. 1, 2017, and last until Dec. 31 2021.

For Eaton’s Neck, incumbent Brian Gorman will be running unopposed and polling will take place at 55 Eaton’s Neck Road from 3 p.m.-9 p.m.

Incumbent Douglas Tewksbury will be running unopposed for Greenlawn, with polls starting from 6 p.m.-9 p.m. at 23 Boulevard Avenue in Greenlawn.

As for the Halesite Fire District, incumbent commissioner Andrew Magerle is running for another five-year term unopposed. Also, Jeff Schondebare is running to complete the remaining one year of the term of commissioner Wayne Jeno. He was already filling in for Jeno.

Magerle and Schondebare could not be reached for comment before Wednesday’s deadline.

The election will be held from 6-9 p.m. on Dec. 13 at Halesite Fire District Headquarters at 1 North New York Ave., Halesite.

In the Huntington Fire District, incumbent commissioner Thomas Collins is running unopposed for another five-year-term.

Collins could not be reached before Wednesday’s deadline.

The election will take place from 3-9 p.m. on Dec. 13 at the Huntington Fire House on 1 Leverich Place, Huntington. The term would begin on Jan. 1, 2017 and end on Dec. 31, 2021.

Finally, Huntington Manor incumbent fire commissioner Ray Spatafora seeks his second five-year term on the board.

Spatafora, 51, is a former maintenance worker for the Town of Huntington’s HART bus department and part-time security guard at Walt Whitman High School. He is a life member of the Huntington Manor Fire department and married with four children.

Polls will be open Dec. 13, 3-9 p.m., at 1650 New York Ave. in Huntington Station.