I would like to thank all of you who came out on the afternoon and evening of Jan. 25 to vote in the Hicksville Fire Commissioner election. At 4 p.m., voters had lined up throughout the firehouse floor and were already waiting outside the building. I expected that, as they did during the first election on Dec. 13, the lines would diminish by 7 p.m. and very few voters after that. But not this time. At 9 p.m., with the official voting hours ended, the voters still waiting outside were crowded into the firehouse so that their votes could be cast. The voting finally concluded at 9:40 p.m. Some voters waited in line for over an hour to cast their vote. Hicksville did itself proud!

Thank you to those voters who supported me in this election, with a special thank you to those who worked so hard and for so long on my campaign. I will work hard for you. First, I will insure that the necessary apparatus, tools and equipment are always provided for your safety and that of our firefighters. Second, I will work to increase two-way communication between the fire district and the community. And third, I will work with the commissioners to eliminate unnecessary spending within the district budgets.

I would like to thank Commissioner Dwyer for his many years of service to the people of Hicksville. I wish him luck in whatever endeavor he undertakes in the coming years.

Bob Manson

Commissioner, Hicksville Fire District