Residents are encouraged to vote for one of the following two candidates running for a seat on the Board of Fire Commissioners for the Syosset Fire District. Voting will take place at the Syosset Fire Department headquarters located at 50 Cold Spring Road on December 13 from 2 to 9 p.m.

Incumbent commissioner Dennis Henderickson, a lifelong Syosset resident and a professional paramedic, is running for re-election to the board and basing his re-election bid on his record.

Henderickson said his family has an extensive history in the Syosset Fire Department dating back to his great-grandfather. Dennis himself has been involved in the fire department for the last 18 years.

Henderickson was a lieutenant, captain of the Hook and Ladder Company, deputy chief, chief of the fire department and now commissioner and hopes to continue with another five-year term. "You can't do what we have done without a great board and we, as a group, have gotten a lot done," said Henderickson. "We work well together and we make decisions with the community in mind."

As a chief, Henderickson is involved in many projects that he is proud of. "Syosset is one of the first departments to run with Automatic External Defibrillators on every vehicle and that is the first treatment in cardiac arrest," he said.

During Henderickson's tenure, the board has improved the length of service award program, which is similar to a pension, and they have made improvements in the plans to benefit the firefighters.

One of his first priorities as commissioner was the financial status of the department. Henderickson said he spoke to the board in regard to the financial situation and brought in external auditors and also completed internal audits.

According to Henderickson, Woodbury is an area that the department has been paying more attention too. "We added a third ambulance in Woodbury to better service them," said Henderickson, who said that the department also used grant money to purchase equipment to help with rescues in the Greenbelt Trail. "The new technology makes it much easier to help kids in the woods and protecting the public's trust is what it is all about."

Henderickson, who lives with his wife and three children in Syosset, said he has not gone out for a bond since he has been on the board. "I will not go out for a bond as long as I sit on the board because there is no reason to saddle anyone's children with the financial shortcomings of today," he said.

Enrollment is an important issue to Henderickson and he said that together, the board and chiefs implemented a highly successful recruitment campaign.

Henderickson said that the board, including himself, focuses on community outreach and they are very involved with the Syosset Street Fair and the Syosset Chamber of Commerce's Holiday Lighting event. "I have been very involved in community outreach since I was a chief," said Henderickson. "I am a member of the community and I am always reaching out. That is a priority of mine. This is not only the Syosset Fire District or the Syosset Fire Department but the entire community."

Stuart Zucker, a 10-year resident of Woodbury, is running for Syosset Fire District's Board of Commissioners. Zucker has 25 years of experience in financial services and over 20 years managing his own business. According to Zucker, as a volunteer in the Syosset Fire Department over the last two years, he is a top responder for all emergency calls.

Zucker said that he spends his time seeing firsthand the needs of the fire department and understands the challenges and objectives in maintaining a top-ranked department.

According to Zucker, listening to the needs of the members of the department, and employees of the district and focusing on the issues that they face each and every time they respond to an emergency call will be the focal point of his energy. "The community must be heard, and more important they must be satisfied," said Zucker.

When asked what he wanted to focus on if elected, Zucker said he wants to use the management and business experience that he has to improve the district.

"My financial acumen will hopefully set positive examples throughout the district, in the hopes of continuing the process of fiscal responsibility, and conservative spending," Zucker said. "I am ready to share my wealth of knowledge and experience with the members of the fire department and the entire Syosset and Woodbury community. I feel the district needs to have someone try and come in and control the spending a little better."

Zucker said he is also concerned about the increase of the budget and the spending in various areas and feels his expertise will be helpful in using the funds in a more strategic way.

If elected, Zucker said he would like to improve the communication with the community. "There has to be more listening to needs of the community, employees of district, and members of department. There is not enough of that out there right now," he said.

The father of two, Zucker's son Daniel attends Syosset High School and his daughter Ariana is a volunteer EMT in Syosset. His wife Meryl recently joined the Ladies Auxiliary in the Syosset Fire Department.

"I look forward to serving and protecting this community over the next five years," said Zucker.