Fortin holds fire seat in two-vote win

Charles Fortin has retained the Oceanside fire commissioner seat he has held for five years, beating challenger Michael Graham by just two votes, 378 to 376.

The balloting on Nov. 10 was inconclusive, with Fortin in the lead by nine votes, 371-362, with 47 affidavit ballots still to be vetted and counted.

The district’s attorney, Anthony Iovino, explained at the time that those 47 voters were not on the official rolls provided by the Board of Elections, but they reported that they lived in the fire district, so they were allowed to vote by affidavit ballot.

The Town of Hempstead Board of Elections had to check on all 47 to see if they are indeed residents of the Oceanside Fire District. It decided on Dec. 18, more than a month after the election, that 26 of the 47 ballots were valid.

Those 26 ballots were opened and counted. while the other 21 were discarded as being inelgible. Following the count by the board of elections and district officials, the board announced that Fortin had squeaked out the win. Fire District Secretary Ann Mickey certified the election as official.

Fortin, 63 is a lifelong Oceanside resident with three grown children.

He lives in the community with his wife and two sons, and he and his wife have two grandchildren as well.

Fortin told the Herald that he was happy with his win, despite the razor-thin margin. “I didn’t think it would be that close,” he said, adding, “I think that people have in their mind that incumbents are not good. I’m looking forward to another five years of working with the other commissioners for the district’s benefit, and I want to thank those who voted for me.”

Michael Graham, 28, the challenger, was born and raised in Oceanside and is an Oceanside High School graduate. Asked for a comment on the close election, Graham said, “I was very happy with the support from the community I received, and I would like to wish Mr. Fortin and the rest of the Board of Fire Commissioners the best of luck.”

Fire officials told the Herald that the two-vote margin made for the closest election in memory. Long-time residents said that in the past, the incumbent most often won by a large margin.