Michael Krummenacker and Patrick Scanlon, both lifelong residents with more than three decades of fire department involvement, are seeking election to the Hicksville Board of Fire Commissioners. Both are vying for the one open seat, a five-year term, being vacated Dec. 31 by Anthony Wigdzinski (see Letters to the Editor pages 18 and 20). Below are profiles on both candidates.

Lifelong Hicksville resident Michael Krummenacker joined the Hicksville Fire Department's Company #1 35 years ago and, over the years, has served as captain and past secretary. In addition, he served as fire commissioner for two consecutive terms from 1981-1991 and, in 2004, ran unsuccessfully for the board against current Commissioner Harry Single.

If elected, Krummenacker said his goals as commissioner include opening the lines of communication between and among the department, district and whole community.

"I will work for direct dialogue and a return to face-to-face exchanges of ideas," he said. "I would like to see a better line of communication and a prompt response to written inquiries set forth from the membership as well as the community." Krummenacker added that he would also like to improve communication among the chiefs, the officers and the commissioners through a "direct and personal dialogue with an open office policy."

The candidate said he would also like to "to expedite the purchase of the new self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) system" and "provide a further extension of [fire commissioner election] voting hours." When asked which goal he would like to tackle first, Krummenacker stated that "all the aforementioned goals are priorities that I will address."

Krummenacker said that he anticipates there will be challenges as a result of a number of new laws passed by the New York State Legislature this year. "[These laws] will change the way all fire districts in the state conduct business," he said. "My training and experience will be valuable assets when meeting these challenges."

In his opinion, one of the biggest problems facing the Hicksville Fire District today is its constant need to be up-to-date. "The district must be prepared to provide the necessary provisions to enable the firefighters to be equipped, educated and vigilant to meet post 9/11 emergencies in our own district and in our complex and changing world," he said.

As a member of the board of fire commissioners, Krummenacker said he would work to improve communication among the chiefs, the officers and the commissioners through a "direct and personal dialogue with an open office policy." I would like to see a better line of communication and a prompt response to written inquiries set forth from the membership as well as the community," he said.

Krummancker said, if elected commissioner, he will work to improve emergency preparedness and increase training and education for firefighters as well as improve fiscal responsibility, accountability and communication along with New York State laws governing fire districts.

On a professional level, Krummenacker was employed in the banking and finance field for 20 years. For the past 12 and a half years he has been employed with the Nassau County Fire Marshal's Office, serving first as a fire inspector and currently, as fire marshal.

In the past, Krrummenacker served as a trustee and secretary of the Nassau County Fire District Association and was president of the Long Island Association of Exempt Fireman's Association, the Nassau County Fire Marshal's Benevolent Association and the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge #128. He has served as secretary for the Long Island Fire Districts Legislative Committee for 25 years and, on a local front, is a member of the Joseph Barry Knights of Columbus.

According to Krummenacker, his experience in banking, current position as a fire marshal and fire service committee work form a strong foundation for the challenges facing the new fire commissioner. He said he is the candidate of choice because, over the years, he has remained active in fire district affairs as well as kept himself abreast of changes in fire service laws.

"I have taken advantage of the many educational opportunities and training programs available to me as a Nassau County Fire Marshal and I hold numerous certifications in Homeland Security, FEMA and New York State," Krummenacker said, adding that he is seeking the board seat because he has a "passion for the volunteer fire service and wish to preserve that tradition of volunteerism."

Lifelong Hicksville resident Patrick Scanlon joined the Hicksville Fire Department's Hook & Ladder Company #6 in 1972 and, over the past 34 years, has served on many department committees, including company officer. He served as chief of department from 1992 to 1993.

If elected, Scanlon said he would set out to "do more with less" without compromising the health, safety and welfare of either the department's members and the residents they protect. "Special tax districts like the Hicksville Fire District need to think outside the box to find new and innovative ways to reduce the tax burden on residents while still providing the highest standard of emergency services to the residents it protects and without jeopardizing the health and welfare of the Hicksville Fire District's most important asset - the men and women of the department," said Scanlon.

The candidate said he is seeking a position on the board to better help the citizens of Hicksville. "As commissioner ... I can advance the relationship with the department and the community and help keep us the great community we all love," he said.

According to Scanlon, the average Hicksville resident currently pays about 61 cents a day for fire and EMS protection. "We have to continue to keep that figure low and still deliver the quality service that the members of the Hicksville Fire Department have provided for years without sacrificing their health and safety," he said. "We must do more with less and still not affect the safety of our residents and the officers and members of the Hicksville Fire Department."

As far as challenges are concerned, Scanlon said the only ones he foresees, if elected, are those he plans to place on himself. "I have never backed down from any challenges and I do not intend to start now," he said.

The biggest problem facing the Hicksville Fire District at this time, said the candidate, is the overwhelming increase in the demands for training, equipment, manpower and just general expenses. "It is always [hard] to keep top rated service and still keep the costs at a reasonable amount," he said, adding that if elected, he will "continue the trend of reducing expenses wherever possible."

"Public safety is always a work in progress. We are constantly updating our equipment and I believe that this practice has to continue in order to provide a safe working environment for our firefighters and total protection for our residents," Scanlon said.

The candidate said that developing a line of communications between the Hicksville Fire District and the community would be top on his improvement list. To do so, he suggests there be a fire district liaison, representing each community group, present during board meetings so that residents' voices can be heard.

"All citizens and community groups need a voice in their government. If elected, I will reach out to all groups and work with the current board to make sure these voices are heard," he said.

On a professional front, Scanlon has worked for the Town of Oyster Bay for 34 years, first as a labor supervisor and currently as a division head for the Old Bethpage Solid Waste Disposal Complex (SWDC). Locally, he has also served as chairman of the department's Ex-Chief John Specht Memorial Golf Outing, which raised over $35,000 for the Hicksville Baseball Association, Hicksville Football Association, Hicksville Youth Council and Nassau County Burn Center.

Scanlon was named Fireman of the Year in 1976 and, in 1981, was the recipient of the Chiefs Award. In 1991, he was awarded the Gold Medal of Honor, Nassau County's highest firefighter award, for his heroic efforts in saving two elderly residents trapped in their home during a fire, an act he performed again in January 2006.

According to Scanlon, his involvement with the fire services and community make him the candidate of choice. "I am truly active, not just by attending meetings of different organizations in the fire service but as an active servant of the community," he said. "I know that I am the only candidate that can honestly say that I care for this community through my actions and not just words that are only spoken when an election is present."

Voting for the Hicksville Board of Fire Commissioners will take place Tuesday, Dec. 12 from 4 to 9 p.m. This year, to accommodate voters and eliminate long wait times, two voting locations will be offered. Residents can vote for their candidate of choice at either fire headquarters, located on East Marie Street, or Station #4, located on Levittown Parkway.