By Hector Flores
Marsar becomes one of five members of the Bellmore Board of Fire Commissioners, which oversees fire district spending and ensures that fire volunteers are safe while on duty. Fire commissioners serve five-year terms.
Marsar, a 16-year firefighting veteran and an emergency medical technician, said of his win, "I am very excited with the prospect of helping the Bellmore Fire Department soar into the future."
Raymond Of, a Bellmore fire commissioner, is confident that Marsar will do a good job as commissioner, and he welcomed him as a board member. "He has a lot of experience and is well-educated," Of said. "He will be a good member of the team."
Marsar thanked the many people who helped him with his grass-roots campaign, including his girlfriend, Nancy Stamatopoulos, who designed and created Marsar's campaign posters and fliers. He also thanked his daughter Tamara, a graduate of Grand Avenue Middle School, who e-mailed all her Bellmore friends urging their parents to vote. And he thanked fellow fire volunteer Vic Elefante, who served as his campaign manager, as well as members of the West End Engine Company No. 3, who sent out mailings, distributed fliers and knocked on neighbors' doors to encourage them to vote.
"There were many individuals that made this win possible, and they all worked very hard for many weeks. To them, I am truly grateful," Marsar said. "I would also like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of my town neighbors who voted for me. I will not let you down."
Marsar's opponent, Peter Lang, declined to comment on the election.
