The Gordon Heights Fire District, which is a special taxing district that funds the Gordon Heights Fire Department, has the highest fire taxes in the state. Residents who oppose the high fire tax recently filed petitions with the Town of Brookhaven to dissolve the fire district and form a fire protection district in its place. The town has since agreed to study all of the issues involved with the scenario, including whether or not a fire protection district would provide a financial benefit to taxpayers.
Gordon Heights Fire District secretary Diana Brown said Tuesday that petitions to run for the Board of Fire Commissioners have been filed by Alex Hanson, a proponent of the dissolution of the fire district, and incumbents Philip Gordon and Frank Swinton for a five-year term. Maryanne Owens, who is also a proponent of the dissolution of the fire district and who lost a bid for election by just three votes a year ago, will oppose first-time candidate Patricia Wilson Brown for a one-year term.
The elections will be held Dec. 8.
Mr. Hanson, 48, is production manager for a manufacturing company and is also the husband of Rosalie Hanson, a community member who led the drive to collect signatures for the dissolution of the fire district and the creation of a fire protection district in its place. Mr. Hanson said he and Ms. Owens are running on the same ticket as a "tax fighting team." Mr. Hanson said he is running for the spot because he would like to work toward reducing residents' taxes, and also to "bring some sunlight" to issues involving the fire district.
"You have a one-way voice now," said Mr. Hanson of the five-member board that manages the fire district. "I'm just trying to get in there and balance the tables."
But Mr. Gordon, a five-year member of the board, said he does bring balance and credited himself for having an independent mind. Mr. Gordon, 48, is a registered nurse at Stony Brook Hospital Medical Center and is seeking his second five-year term in office. Mr. Gordon said he is seeking re-election because he would like to continue bringing an independent voice to the board.
"I'm very independent," Mr. Gordon said. "Independent in a sense that I don't always go along with what the other people want me to."
Mr. Gordon, who is also a volunteer firefighter in the department, said he loves all aspects of the fire service and wants to continue to serve the community in the capacity that he has for the past five years. If re-elected, Mr. Gordon said he will continue to represent the community with "sincerity" and will work toward reducing taxes.
"I love the position of fire commissioner," Mr. Gordon said.
Mr. Swinton, who was appointed to the board earlier this year after Harriet Wilson resigned from her five-year term, could not be reached for comment before presstime.
Ms. Owens said her close defeat in 2008 did not deter her from running this time around. As The North Shore Sun previously reported, it was later revealed that three individuals who voted in the election were not eligible to vote because they lived just outside the fire district's boundaries, in the Middle Island Fire District. Although there is no way to tell how the three individuals cast their votes, Ms. Owens decided to run again after the district refused to call for another election. Ms. Owens, 49, a senior credit representative with a Ronkonkoma company, said she is running again for the spot because she is seeking to increase transparency in the fire district and also to make the Board of Fire Commissioners more accountable to the residents.
"It's time for the community of Gordon Heights to take back their fire department," Ms. Owens said.
Ms. Wilson Brown could also not be reached for comment before presstime.
The election will be held at the Gordon Heights firehouse on Hawkins Avenue in Medford. Polls will be open between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. The election is only open to residents of the Gordon Heights Fire District. For questions or more information about the election, call 631-698-6303.
peggy@northshoresun.com