(Editor's Note: Andrew DeMartin, the incumbent, and Samuel Brown, are running for commissioner. Efforts were made to contact both candidates, to submit statements and a photograph. Only Mr. DeMartin responded and his statement follows.)

Andrew DeMartin, a veteran firefighter and longtime advocate of firefighter safety issues on the state and local level, is running for Water/Fire Commissioner of the Manhasset-Lakeville Fire District. The North Hempstead Town Board appointed Mr. DeMartin to the position last May.

A 25-year volunteer firefighter with the Great Neck Vigilant Fire Company, Mr. DeMartin is a past chief and current board chairman of the Board of Trustees for the fire company. A lifelong resident of Great Neck, Mr. DeMartin has been a fire officer of the Vigilant Fire Company and a member since 1983. For five years, he also served as chairman of the Eighth Battalion, which includes the Manhasset-Lakeville Fire District.

Mr. DeMartin is also chairman of the Emergency Operations Center of the Eighth Battalion of Nassau County.

He describes himself as "community-minded," an attribute he takes a lot of pride in. "I am running for Water/Fire Commissioner for the Manhasset-Lakeville Fire District because I have devoted my life to public service," said Andrew DeMartin. "Through the years, I have filled a variety of different roles within the fire service, and my special knowledge and experience would be great assets if I am elected commissioner. I believe this new role would be a natural progression for me, and if I am elected, I would serve with the utmost degree of dedication and commitment to the job."

Mr. DeMartin has also served as chairman of the Nassau County Fire Commission, overseeing a $13 million budget in the Fire Marshal's office. He has worked closely with the county legislature to protect important training funds for firefighters, studied the needs of fire protection in the county, and made recommendations for improvement in fire protection for individual departments.

Mr. DeMartin is a member of the American Water Works Association, the New England Water Works Association, and the Water Environmental Federation.

In 2006, Mr. DeMartin received the prestigious Nassau County Bronze Medal of Valor for saving the life of a Great Neck resident during a car fire at the intersection of Northern Boulevard and Middle Neck Road.

Mr. DeMartin is a 16-year employee of the Great Neck Alert Fire Company. As engineer, he maintains the grounds, equipment and property of the Alert Fire Company. Married for 20 years, he is a devoted husband and father of three children.

Mr. DeMartin is an active member of the Lakeville School Safety

Committee and spends time coaching his daughter's sports, including lacrosse.

The position of Water/Fire Commissioner in the Manhasset-Lakeville Fire District holds a 3-year term. The election will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 9 at Manhasset-Lakeville firehouses 1, 3, 4, 5.