By: Stephen J. Bronner
The 30-year incumbent of Sanitary District 1 defeated his challenger in a landslide victory for his seat on the Board of Commissioners.
"It was really a vote of confidence in the district and staff, and the work that they do," said Irving Kaminetsky, who defeated challenger Garrett Gray with a total vote tally of 865 to 200. "It was really great for the community to come together, without divisiveness, to vote for the district and myself."
Kaminetsky will serve another five years on the Board of Commissioners. restaurateur Lino Viola, who replaced Joseph Candella as a commissioner last year, will finish the remaining two years of that term. Viola was running unopposed and received 983 votes.
Gray congratulated the two winners on a well-run campaign. "I'm hopeful that I was able to bring the issues the people of Sanitary District 1 are concerned about to the forefront, and the commissioners will do something about them," Gray said. "If that happens, then I've accomplished my goal."
Kaminetsky also addressed the newly-passed law which allows for the dissolution of special districts, such as Sanitary District 1. "No one can say that this was done in the dark and wasn't publicized," Kaminetsky said. "It was also a vote against consolidation. Everyone in the community knew about it."
