Fire Commissioner election results: former police chief Hegermiller defeats Culhane in Wading River
Several fire districts throughout the North Fork and Riverhead held fire commissioner board elections on Tuesday, Dec. 10.
A majority of the races were unopposed, however, three districts were contested: Wading River, Manorville and Southold. Most of the candidates ran for a five-year term, while others intended for one- or two-year spots.
From proposing budgets to initiating projects to improve fire safety, fire commissioner boards monitor the financial and business practices of each fire district but do not lead the day-to-day operations or respond to emergency situations as a fire chief would.
The boards govern all fire companies and fire departments in a given district by adopting rules and regulations for the members. Below are the winners of each fire district election.
RIVERHEAD FIRE DISTRICTS
Riverhead Fire District: Edward Carey Jr. (5 years)
Wading River Fire District: David Hegermiller (5 years)
Manorville Fire District: William Costello (5 years)
Jamesport Fire District: John Newman (5 years), Length of Service Award Program proposition passed
NORTH FORK FIRE DISTRICTS
Mattituck Fire District: Edward Hanus (5 years)
Cutchogue Fire District: Michael Finnican (5 years)
Southold Fire District: William Salmon (5 years), Thomas Grattan Jr. (2 years)
East Marion Fire District: Bill Anderson (5 years)
Orient Fire District: Grayson Murphy (5 years), Michael Prindle (1 year)
Correction: The results of the Orient Fire District election were misstated in a previous version of this arrticle. Write-in candidate Michael Prindle was elected to serve as the district’s Fire Commissioner for a 1-year term.
