Q & A with Craig DeBaun

Longtime Oceanside resident Craig DeBaun is running for commissioner of Oceanside Sanitation District 7. He works for Nassau County’s Recreation and Parks department, and has served as a Fire Commissioner for the Oceanside Fire District for 34 years. The election is on June 18 from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m at 90 Mott St.

Q: Why are you running for sanitation board?

A: I am running because I know that I can help make Sanitation run better for the people of Oceanside. The men work hard and do a good job and I think the District is on the right track. But I think improvements can be made.

As a lifelong resident, and active in many areas of the community, especially the Oceanside Fire District where I have served for 34 years as Commissioner, I have seen the need for someone with more experience in special district operations and the relationship with the town of Hempstead and the NYS Comptroller’s office, and the regulations that they put on these special districts. There is also a need for a review of the policies and procedures of the District regarding the operation by the office staff. We also have to put a plan in place for future emergencies. We have to be realists, and realize that you cannot be prepared for every situation, both from a manpower and financial view. But we should be as prepared as we can be.

Q: What do you hope to accomplish on the sanitation board?

A: I hope to bring the same transparency and organization that we have at the Oceanside Fire District to Sanitation. I think the web site needs to improved and that we have to look at new ways to get information to the community. I want to help make sure we are prepared for the next disaster.

Q: The sanitation board has been through a lot of controversy in the past few years: last year’s election that dragged out all Summer, the audit for that revealed the Michael and Charles Scarlata received $800,000 in retirement benefits on top of their salaries, and criticism of the way the district handled the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. How would you address these controversies?

A: I believe the only way is to accurately review the past financial practices of the Sanitary District, to review, contracts, between all individuals, unions and the District and find out the legality of such, and to review the audits and the response of the District and the opinions of the State Comptroller’s Office.

I would rely on our attorneys to answer any questions, and assist in the determination as to the past practices of the District. But most important, I would bring policies that have proven to work at the Fire District and in my business to Sanitation to make sure things are done correctly in the future.