On Tuesday, Dec. 9, the residents of the Hicksville Fire District will be asked to select an individual to serve a five-year-term on the Fire District Board of Commissioners. As former chiefs of the Hicksville Fire Department, we are urging you to re-elect the incumbent, Commissioner William "Bill" Schuckman.

Bill is a 33-year, third-generation Hicksville firefighter, who has faithfully served our district's residents as both a former chief and current commissioner. He has worked diligently to improve our district and richly deserves your support.

As former chiefs we have had the opportunity to work with Bill at the highest levels in the fire service. During his tenure as commissioner, working closely with the board and the chief's office, he has taken the Hicksville Fire Department and district into the 21st century without imposing an onerous burden on our taxpayers.

For example, under Bill's leadership the Hicksville Fire District has established a renowned hazardous materials response team. Back when he served as chief in the 1980s, Bill had the foresight to envision the need for such a well-trained unit, long before the threat of chemical spills and terrorism became so prevalent. As other fire departments and emergency service units throughout the country play catch-up, especially since September 11, 2001, our hazardous materials response team stands ready to roll at a moment's notice, a testament to creative thinking and advance planning. This highly trained unit protects not only the residents of Hicksville, but as they have been for the past 25 years, every community in Nassau and Suffolk counties in times of need.

As a former emergency medical technician, Commissioner Schuckman has also continued to streamline and improve the emergency medical services of the Hicksville Fire Department by purchasing external automatic defibrillators for all chiefs' cars and all front line apparatus. In addition, a specially equipped "fly car" has been put in service to provide a rapid response by an on-duty EMT or AEMT to any medical emergency in the district.

The safety of our firefighters and their well-being has always been a top priority of Bill Schuckman during his tenure as both chief and now as fire commissioner. He has led the way by providing the membership with the most up-to-date equipment, including the purchase of modern fire apparatus, protective equipment and by establishing a medical liaison's office to deal with medical issues for the membership. He has also provided great assistance in the district's compliance with ever-changing federal OSHA mandates.

In spite of all these improvements, our fire district tax rate has remained stable during Bill's tenure. This is quite an accomplishment, especially when you compare the fire district tax rates with those of local school districts, which always seem to dramatically increase year after year.

Together, we have over 100 years of firefighting experience and we've had the opportunity to work with many chiefs and commissioners over the years. Bill is an extremely dedicated individual who serves our district well. We ask that on Dec. 9 you cast your vote for our brother firefighter Bill Schuckman for the post of Hicksville Fire Commissioner. He has clearly earned your support!

Ex-Chief Gerard O'Brien

Ex-Chief Patrick Scanlon

Ex-Chief William "Spike" Thunell

We are writing this letter in support of the incumbent candidate, William Schuckmann, who is running for the position of fire commissioner of the Hicksville Fire District.

For many years, William Schuckmann has devoted himself to the Hicksville community through the preservation of first-rate equipment for the members of the fire department who ultimately protect the community of Hicksville. The Hicksville Fire District is one of the leading fire districts in New York State and we have William Schuckmann and the other board members to thank for this accomplishment.

One has to look no further than William Schuckmann's record as fire commissioner to find that he has the background and skills to be re-elected to the position for another term as commissioner. Both his 32 years of fire department experiences and 33 years of advisory experience with the Hicksville Water District make William Schuckmann qualified to serve in this most important position.

The governing body of the board of fire commissioners has the responsibility to ensure your family's safety. By the prudent use of district funds, William Schuckmann has helped the board to provide the needed state-of-the-art EMS equipment and up-to-date training for our firefighters. William Schuckmann has kept a watchful eye on the spending of the district's funds so that the Hicksville Fire Department gets the needed equipment and training for its members.

Please come to the Hicksville Firehouse, located at 20 East Marie Street, to vote on Tuesday, Dec. 9 between the hours of 6 and 9 p.m. to show your support for a fine member of our community.

Committee to Re-elect William Schuckmann

Gil Cusick

Nicholas Brigandi

Free elections are one of the basic rights of a democracy. The privilege to choose between candidates running for an office provides us with the opportunity to have some control over those who would govern us. However, for elections to be significant and of worth, they must be predicated on the integrity of the candidates. The choice we make in an election should be based upon differences in ideas, solutions and programs offered by each candidate. Unfortunately, many times campaigns are not based upon positive, constructive alternatives, but upon emotional, negative appeals designed only to win an office.

I am writing this letter in response to the concerns and fears I have heard expressed by many in our community regarding the coming election for fire commissioner. These concerns focus upon the issues surrounding the Briggs Street firehouse. I hear people expressing the idea that no renovation is needed, that houses will be condemned so that a larger facility can be erected, and comments that the fire department buys unneeded equipment and facilities.

These issues are focused upon the leadership of one of the fire commissioners, William Schuckmann, who is running for re-election. I am supporting William Schuckmann and would urge your support as well. I do so for the following reasons:

The fire commissioner is only one of many who contribute to decisions made by the fire department. In addition to the commissioners, the chief of the department and the various government agencies are involved in the decision process. For example, a law was passed that firefighters could no longer ride on the back or on the outside of a fire truck. This law required the purchase of new apparatus with cabs to hold the firemen. This required vehicles of greater length and height which led to the need of renovating the firehouses to accommodate them.

Another example is the response time for fire trucks and ambulances. Timing is crucial in saving lives and containing a fire. The Briggs Street station was built because the railroad was on street level and the response to emergencies was delayed by passing trains. Although the railroad is now elevated, the problem is even greater because of heavy car traffic. It was because of the loss of life due to the delay in equipment reaching the scene that the firehouse on Levittown Parkway was built.

Commissioner Schuckmann is knowledgeable and experienced in all the complicated issues facing the fire service. He is not only a commissioner, but still a firefighter. He is an active member of Company 8, the department's heavy rescue company. He worked his way up through the ranks, became captain of his company, then chief of the department and finally commissioner. The issues and decisions facing our fire commissioners are not frivolous. They are matters of life and death, not only of the people the department is saving, but also of the lives of the firefighters.

Commissioner Schuckman is aware and concerned about the necessities of an adequate, well-equipped and well-trained fire department. People look at the firehouses and judge them to be luxurious. It is only an experienced leader who is aware of the need for rooms for training facilities, decontamination areas for firefighters from hazardous materials, space for the cleaning of trucks and equipment as well as communication centers.

William Schuckman has provided the leadership, expertise and commitment that has made Hicksville fire service one of the most capable and responsive. He deserves our support. His positions are clear. His record is his testimony and our welfare is his concern.

Rev. Theodore Grant

The members of the Rotary Club of Hicksville-Jericho wish to pledge their support for William Schuckmann who is a candidate for re-election to the board of fire commissioners of the Hicksville Fire Department. As a past president and Paul Harris recipient, we know he is the right man to do this job.

Along with his many other community accomplishments, Bill served on the Hicksville Jericho Rotary Club Board of Directors, held the offices of treasurer, secretary, vice president and president. After his very successful year as president of the club, he continued to serve on the board of directors filling a position in one of the Avenues of Service.

Bill's efforts as a member of the Rotary Club did not diminish his other community activities which in a large part were involved with his work with the Hicksville Fire Department not only as an active firefighter, but working his way to captain of his company, chief of the department and then on to commissioner.

A criteria for becoming a member of a Rotary Club is to live or work in the area. Bill meets both these situations as a lifelong member of the Hicksville community and his longtime association with the Hicksville Water District. We feel Bill deserves our support to enable him to continue his position on the board of fire commissioners and to be able to continue to serve the people of Hicksville with his expertise and God-given talents.

Kevin Asher

President, Rotary Club of Hicksville-Jericho