Eckels defeats Yanantuono in commissioner race

Posted

Ex-Baldwin Fire Department Chief Keith Eckels defeated incumbent fire commissioner Paul Yanantuono in Tuesday’s election. Eckels earned 326 vote to Yanantuono’s 281.

“Thank you to everyone for all their support with my election,” Eckels said on his campaign Facebook page. "I look forward to serving the department and our community."

Yanantuono, who was serving as chairman of the board of commissioners, has been on the five-member panel since 1994. “Though the election did not go as I hoped, I would like to thank all those who came out to vote,” Yanantuono said on his Facebook page. “I have been blessed to have been able to support the Baldwin Fire Department and help protect the residents of the Baldwin Fire District for the past 25 years.”

Among other things, the board of fire commissioners is responsible for overseeing the Baldwin Fire District’s finances. Eckels, general supervisor of Sanitary District No. 2, touted his experience with that board during his run. He said the sanitation district maintained services, and even expanded some, while staying under the state mandated tax cap.

He told the Herald in November he believed the Baldwin board of fire commissioners needed a fresh set of eyes to tackle important issues. “I’d like to add another view to the guys who have been there for a while,” he said. He is a 30-year member of the department and served as chief in 1998.

Yanantuono, a 43-year BFD member, served as chief in 1986, as did his father in 1967. His son, Craig, was chief in 2014. He said his experience would have served the district well. “We have a lot more work to do,” Yanantuono said last month. He, too, touted his history of crafting a budget that stayed under the tax cap while keeping services intact.

He’s been a commissioner since 1994 and served as chairman in 1998, 2003, 2008, 2013 and is the sitting chairman.