Wading River Fire District voters oust incumbent commissioner — again

Wading River Fire District voters for the second straight year turned down an incumbent commissioner’s re-election bid by a handful of votes.

Challenger Tom Colitti, a former chief of the department, defeated incumbent commissioner Jim Meier by a vote of 188 to 186, according to Wading River Fire District Secretary Steve Donnelly.

Incumbent commissioner Jim Meier conceded the election on his Facebook re-election page last night.

“We came up two votes short, 186 – 188, but we gave it our best shot,” he wrote. “I am all about the fire district and doing what is right. I will always be there for the town and what is right. Time to kick back and enjoy some nights off. Thanks again for all the support and there is always next time.”

Colitti could not be reached for comment. A statement on his Facebook  page said, “Tom wishes to express his sincere thanks and gratitude to everyone who worked on his campaign team and to all of his supporters who braved the miserable weather to came out and vote. As he prepares to take office, Thomas looks forward to representing the interests of the fire district and managing the organization in the best way possible.”

Donnelly said  as far  as he knows, the vote stands and the results will not be challenged as they were last year. In 2013, challenger Glenn Erick, who mounted a write-in campaign for commissioner, lost the election by one vote in the official count by the district, which excluded 10 votes in his favor based on technicality issues with those ballots. Erick sued and won, overturning the district’s decision.  The court found Erick finished with 238 votes to the incumbent Tim Deveny’s 231.

In the only other contested fire commissioner election in the Town of Riverhead, in the Manorville Fire District, Dennis Hendrickson defeated Craig Albert Lindahl by a vote of 154 to 108, Commissioner Tom Campanaro said this morning. That contest was a vote to fill the seat vacated by Richard Schmidt, who decided not to seek re-election.

In Riverhead, incumbent Ed Carey ran unopposed. In Jamesport, John K. Apicello ran unopposed. Both men currently serve as chairmen of the board of commissioners in their districts.

By state law, fire districts hold elections for commissioners on the second Tuesday of December. The term of office is five years. Commissioners serve without compensation.

Commissioners elect a chairman of the board of commissioners, who presides over all meetings of the board. They appoint a district secretary and a treasurer, and are responsible for adopting district budgets and managing the finances of the district. They are also responsible for purchasing and maintaining the district’s vehicles, equipment and property.

Commissioners are authorized by state law to organize, operate, maintain and equip fire companies within the district, and to adopt rules and regulations governing all fire companies. They enforce the rules and may discipline fire company members for violations.