Voting for district commissioners on Tuesday

On Tuesday, residents could go to the polls and vote for commissioners in seven special districts; including a half dozen that provide fire protection in Atlantic Beach, Hewlett, Inwood, North Lawrence, Meadowmere Park and Woodmere. All terms begin on Jan. 1.

Inwood Fire District
George Miller Jr., Anthony Rivelli Sr. and David Winzelberg are vying for the five-year term as incumbent Charles Borfitz is stepping down.
Miller Jr., whose father George Miller Sr. is currently a commissioner, has been involved with the fire department for more than 30 years and is an ex-chief of the department. According to Miller Jr., this is the first time there was a three-way race for a commissioner’s position in Inwood’s history.
“I believe I can help the district and work along side the fire department,” Miller Jr. said. “I want to make sure [the firefighters] have what they need and I want to make the decisions to get them what they need.”
A newcomer to Inwood, Winzelberg has lived in the community for nearly two years and has never been involved in the fire service. “I want to give back to the community and the best way I can is utilizing my skills,” he said, pointing to his business acumen gained from running a company.
Rivelli did not returns calls for comment by press time.

Woodmere Fire District
Incumbent Commissioner Erik Kinney is being challenged by Israel Max and Darren Morritz for the five-year term. Yehuda Karkowsky is running uncontested for a two-year term. None of the candidates could be reached by press time.

Atlantic Beach Fire District
John R. Faulhaber is running unopposed for his fifth five-year commissioner term. He is one of the founding members of the Atlantic Beach Rescue Squad. The unit, established in 1975, provides emergency medical services and conducts water rescues for the barrier island community. “I just want to give the Village of Atlantic Beach the fire and medical protection it deserves,” Faulhaber said.
Appointed earlier this year after Jeff Trott stepped down, Joseph A. Montilli is running uncontested to complete the two years of Trott’s unexpired five-year term. Montilli, who previously served for 30 years with the Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department and is an ex-chief, said his goal is to ensure that the best fire services are provided. Long Beach Fire Department provides fire protection to Atlantic Beach.
“This is a constantly moving wheel and if you don’t pay attention to detail you might miss a few things,” Montilli said. “The equipment is adequate but it needs updating and I want to enhance the training.”

Hewlett Fire District
Involved with the fire department for 10 years, Mark Lorberbaum is running unopposed for his second five-year term as a commissioner. Also on the ballot is a referendum asking the public’s permission to establish a capital reserve fund to finance radio and technology equipment purchases. “The best thing we can do for the taxpayer is keep costs down,” Lorberbaum said, in support of the proposed referendum.

Meadowmere Park Fire District
Nearly lifelong resident Andrew Schmidt is running unchallenged for a second consecutive five-year term. Schmidt, 70, has lived in the community since he was 8 and has been involved with the fire department for 55 years. “We want to keep taxes low and keep everything going and moving along after [Hurricane] Sandy,” he said.
In addition to the community of about 100 homes, the district is responsible for providing fire protection to a portion of the Rockaway Turnpike area, including Costco and Sanitary District 1’s headquarters.

Greater Atlantic Beach Water Reclamation District
East Atlantic Beach resident Scott Mason, the current chairman of the governing board, is running uncontested for the three-year term. He did not return a call for comment by press time.
The district operates a plant that runs 24 hours a day and processes nearly 700,000 gallons of water on a daily basis for Atlantic Beach village, Atlantic Beach Estates and East Atlantic Beach.

North Lawrence Fire District
Incumbent Louis Spinelli is running uncontested for the five-year term. The district serves the residential and commercial areas outside the Cedarhurst and Lawrence villages.