Residents of Hicksville Fire District will take to the polls on Tuesday, Dec. 13 to cast their vote for fire commissioner. This year, Robert Dwyer is seeking re-election against challenger Bob Manson. Fire commissioner terms are for five years. The election will take place at Hicksville Fire headquarters located on East Marie Street from 4 to 9 p.m.

The Hicksville Illustrated News compiled the following profiles on both candidates:

Lifelong Hicksville resident Robert Dwyer has been a volunteer in the Hicksville Fire Department for 33 years and has served as fire commissioner for 20 years. Since 1973, Dwyer has been employed by the Town of Oyster Bay and currently serves as supervisor of the parks department.

Locally, Dwyer has coached the Hicksville Baseball Association and the Hicksville Police Athletic League and was a member of the Hicksville Athletic Booster Club and the Hicksville PTA. In addition to being a member of the Knights of Columbus Joseph Barry Council, the NorthWest Civic Association and the Knights of Blue, he was past president of the Exempt Firemen Association and chairman of the Hicksville-Jericho Rotary Club's tree lighting ceremony. Dwyer was also active with the New York State and International Fire Chiefs, the Fire Department Safety Officers and the National Fire Protection Associations.

Dwyer is seeking re-election to continue helping the district and fire department "move forward with the strides already made to be number one in the state and the county and continue the training and equipment projects currently in line," he said. "I want to continue seeing Hicksville outshine other departments and show our taxpayers we are the best." According to Dwyer, the fire district needs someone knowledgeable of the community's history and needs. "If you are going to be a commissioner, you have to know the needs of the community. You have to be involved. You have to hear the concerns and complaints of the community. I personally know the heartbeat of this community," he said.

Dwyer points out that although the Hicksville Fire District's tax bill is among the highest in the county, the average Hicksville household pays just $.66 a day or $241 a year for fire and EMS protection with the remainder of the tax burden picked up by commercial property owners. "Let the record show what you get for $.66 a day. You get a tax rate that is well below the Nassau County average and you get one of the best response times," said Dwyer, adding that the fire district's tax rate will decrease significantly once a federal lawsuit regarding the Length of Service Award Program is settled in 2006. "At this time, the budget will automatically be reduced substantially," he said.

Prior to the lawsuit, the fire district's budget grew only 27 percent over a 10-year period. "That's approximately 2.7 percent a year. Your bread, milk and eggs go up that much," Dwyer said.

According to the commissioner, "Nassau County, which is supposed to be the sole provider for emergency services, is not keeping up and volunteer fire services have taken that burden on. Twenty-five years ago, Nassau County police had two ambulances to handle all of the 7th Precinct and today they still have two ambulances," Dwyer said. "Meanwhile, the Hicksville Volunteer Fire Service has four [ambulances] with the best trained personnel out there. Hicksville Fire Service has grown leaps and bounds over Nassau County."

If re-elected, Dwyer said continued training and recruitment will be among his top priorities. "We have taken over fire prevention education. We have purchased a new training trailer so we can train 24/7. We are purchasing a new fly car so EMS can be there on the spot," he said, adding that increased communication with taxpayers is also a top priority. "We need to send home the message of what the Hicksville Fire Department and District are all about. We are more than just a fire department and we need to let people know that who we are, what we do and what we provide for $.66 a day is remarkable. We have a Haz-Mat team. We have four ambulances on the road well trained. We have our own dispatch team so that we can prevent delays. All of this comes into play," Dwyer said.

"Volunteerism in Hicksville is increasing while others are contemplating hiring full-time personnel. We have a very aggressive fire department when it comes to recruitment, retention and getting the job done and we somehow have to take on the challenge of letting our constituents know exactly who and what we are."

Dwyer believes he's the best candidate because he personally knows the heartbeat of the community. "I am affiliated with many organizations. My opponent is not," Dwyer said. "My record of working to bring the department to the top of the charts stands for itself. I have spent the last 15 years making sure the community is safe and keeping up with the changing times."

Above all, Dwyer said he is proud to be both a member and commissioner of one of the finest volunteer fire departments in the country. "We provide Hicksville firefighters with the best equipment available to help protect them during fire situations so they can save lives and properties," he said. "I will need your vote on December 13 so I can continue to provide the Hicksville community with the fire protection they deserve."

Bob Manson, a resident of Hicksville for 44 years, is seeking election to the position of Hicksville fire commissioner. In 1997, Manson retired as a four-star chief with the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) and served as a chief officer for 22 of his 37-year career. He was a member of Hicksville's Company #7, serving from 1971 to 1972, and is currently involved with the Knights of Columbus Joseph Barry Council and the Holy Name Society.

Manson said he is running for fire commissioner to "serve the members of the Hicksville Fire Department and the Hicksville community." He believes one of the biggest problems facing the district is the lack of awareness among residents about how the fire district is managed. "There has been a lack of public interest and involvement [and] it was only after I entered this race that I became actually aware of what this lack of awareness, interest and involvement by the public in the fire district administration has cost the Hicksville taxpayer," said Manson, adding, "My fire district taxes went up 32 percent in the last year alone. Hicksville is now the highest budgeted fire district on Long Island. While the safety of our firefighters must and will always be ensured, we cannot continue to overtax Hicksville taxpayers."

If elected, Manson said he would ensure that Hicksville firefighters are properly equipped and trained to quickly respond to and operate at fires and emergencies without overburdening taxpayers. One way to reduce costs, said Manson, would be to take a closer look at the budget and determine what is and isn't necessary. "I would see what is needed and what is not needed [and] where waste could be eliminated," he said, adding that while all items listed on the current budget could very well be "legitimate" it would not hurt to take a closer look.

One suggestion, said Manson, is to review the district's replacement policy when it comes to purchasing new equipment such as trucks. He believes they should be purchased over a period of time rather than all at once. "Hicksville gets 15 years out of their pumpers. They should be buying a new one every three years rather than replacing them all at the same time," said Manson, referring to the five new pumpers the district ordered in 2005.

He does not, however, suggest cutting costs that would affect firefighter safety. "Whatever [the members] need for safety I am certainly in favor of. I put a lot of fires out. I am well aware of the dangers of putting fires out so the members' safety is my first concern," he said.

If elected, Manson said he will work to improve community awareness and "put an end to 15 years of lack of communication and work hard to establish an open Hicksville Fire District administration. It is critical that the taxpayers and firefighters be informed and involved in the administration of their fire department and district." "I will work to establish a liaison with the Hicksville community through the various community groups to act with the leaders of these groups to ensure that our residents are informed and involved in the function of the Hicksville Fire District," said Manson, adding, "I will closely examine and evaluate all future fire district budgets. I will use my experiences as a firefighter and officer in the busiest fire companies in the FDNY to ensure all funding necessary for the safety of our firefighters and the Hicksville residents is always provided, while using my administrative experience to eliminate unnecessary spending."

Manson believes his 37 years of experience in both field and administrative roles with the FDNY - serving as chief of fire prevention, chief of maintenance and acting chief of department - would make him an asset to the Hicksville Fire District. As acting chief of department, Manson oversaw 350 fire companies with 2,000 firefighters per shift protecting eight million people and $1 trillion in real estate. As a borough commander, he was responsible for fire/emergency control, training, staffing, equipment and fire prevention code enforcement for Manhattan and the Bronx Fire Command, which consisted of five divisions, 20 battalions, 82 engine companies, 59 ladder companies and two rescue companies with 3,500 officers and firefighters.

As chief of the maintenance division, Manson was responsible for the specification, repair and maintenance of the department's 1,000 vehicles and 220 buildings in a division comprised of 150 auto mechanics and tradesmen. As chief of fire prevention, Manson was responsible for the development, enactment and enforcement of fire safety rules, laws, codes and regulations for the City of New York, a bureau unit with 800 uniformed and civilian personnel and a $28 million budget.

Although he does anticipate challenges if elected fire commissioner, Manson said it is his "hope that the other commissioners will come to share this vision of openness, which I believe will benefit everyone ... Being elected to this position would be an honor and a trust ... I look forward to serving the community of Hicksville."