By Liz McBreen
Senti, a commissioner in Lakeview for 15 years, is seeking a fourth term. His stated goals for the next five years are to improve the district's communication systems and to obtain grant money for new imaging cameras that can "see" heat and lead firefighters to the source of a fire.
The incumbent has been a resident of the Lakeview Fire District all his life and a member of the fire department for 30 years, serving as chief in 1982-83. Senti was instrumental in the construction of the new Lakeview fire station on Woodfield Road and the acquisition of two new fire trucks and an ambulance.
"Basically, we want to consolidate our resources, continue to improve response time, and keep costs down for taxpayers," Senti said. "I have a proven track record, and I want to continue to serve the community."
Senti has been a member and delegate of several fire-related organizations on the national, state and county level. Improving on the communication system in Lakeview became one of his top concerns after reports that the radio system used by the New York City Fire Department may not have been working properly during the attacks of Sept. 11.
The challenger, Awerbach, has lived in the Lakeview Fire District for 15 years and was a member of the West Hempstead Fire Department for five years. He returned to volunteer work three years ago, and as a result of re-districting, became a member of the Lakeview department.
Awerbach, who is running for public office for the first time, feels that his background in business and finance makes him a strong candidate. "Fire commissioners are in charge of a budget and have a large fiscal responsibility," he said. "This district needs someone with strong business experience."
Another reason Awerbach decided to run was to ensure that the public becomes more informed about what's happening in the fire district. "The fire commissioners meet once a month, but information about what goes on at the meetings is not disseminated to the public," he said.
Awerbach is also concerned with improving the department's communication system, and says he's "looking forward to moving the fire district into the 21st century."
The Lakeview department is the first to respond to several areas of West Hempstead and is often on stand-by for several other towns. Votes for fire commissioner will be cast at the Woodfield Road Firehouse on Dec. 10 between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m.
