Local voters will head to the polls next week to choose commissioners for both the Westbury Fire and Water District and the Carle Place Water District, in elections that have been overshadowed by the ongoing U.S. presidential election dispute.

The elections will be held Dec. 12. In each district, one commissioner is up for re-election. Both boards feature 3 members with staggered 3-year terms; one member of each board is up for re-election every year.

In the Westbury Water and Fire District, Alfred Ardis is running for re-election for a 6th term.

Ardis, a retired traffic supervisor with the Town of North Hempstead, has served on the board of commissioners for the past 15 years. In announcing his candidacy, Ardis promised to continue to provide residents with one of the most efficient and finest water and fire districts in the country.

Ardis stated, "The role of water and fire commissioner is that of an administrator charged with the management and control of the district's water production and distribution systems, as well as fire and emergency apparatus and plant facilities. I feel that over the years I have represented the people well in discharging these duties. I have been totally involved in every aspect of district operations and have been readily available on a daily basis to advise on any emergency that might arise."

He added, "The district's budget totals over $4 million per year and I have been instrumental in making sure the taxpayers get every dollar's worth."

Ardis continued, "Our water district maintains a close liaison with the Nassau County Health Department Officers for federal, state and county guidelines on drinking water quality standards. We look to the New York State Department of Environmental Control which is mandated by law to protect our groundwater supply source from industrial and private dumping of chemicals and other contaminants. We engage the legal services of a well-known and highly-regarded local law firm, as well as a nationally renowned engineering consultant firm to protect the best interest of the district consumers."

Robert Culbert is the challenger looking to unseat Ardis. A 34-year resident of the Westbury Water and Fire District, Culbert has a Bachelor of Arts degree in sales and marketing from the University of Iowa.

The candidate has 37 years volunteer firefighting service, 32 of those for the Westbury Fire Department. He has also been a member of the board of officers in the Westbury Fire Department for six years, and is currently the chief instructor for the fire department.

Culbert is an officer in the Volunteer and Exempt Firemen's Benevolent Association, a member of the Nassau County Firemen's Association, and parishioner at St. Brigid's Church, Westbury.

The candidate is the owner of a general insurance agency, and has a financial services background in insurance, ranging from personal to corporate.

Describing his reason for running for the office of commissioner, Culbert said, "I feel that I can do a better job than the current incumbent," "and develop more of a communication between the water district and the fire department."

If elected, he noted, he would aim to ensure, "That the people of Westbury continue to have an excellent water supply, and that they will continue to have excellent fire protection service currently and in the future."

In the Westbury Fire and Water District, while the board of commissioners administers to plant and equipment needs of the district's fire department, the 150 volunteer firemen are under the sole direction of the fire chief and his two deputy chiefs when they are on duty.

The Westbury Fire and Water District election will take place on Dec. 12 from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Maple Avenue Fire House. One must be a registered voter to participate.

In the Carle Place Water District, Michael Fitzgerald is running for re-election as a member of the Board of Commissioners of the Carle Place Water District. Fitzgerald, who has served as commissioner for five years, is running for re-election for the third time.

Fitzgerald has been a resident of the Carle Place Water District for more than 21 years.

The incumbent said he wants to be re-elected "to continue to provide the high level of service that the Carle Place residents have come to expect from their water district."

Describing the accomplishments of his tenure in office, he noted that he has "overseen sound fiscal basis of our operation, along with the enhancement of our capital reserve account," as well as "the installation of a new modernized office system and the constant maintenance of our capital equipment."

Joe Passariello is challenging the incumbent to the position.

Passariello is veteran of the Carle Place Water District. He was employed there for 17 years, from the late 1960s until he left with the title of assistant superintendent in the 1980s. He went on to become supervisor of Water in Mineola, then superintendent of the Plainview Water District. He is now employed as superintendent of the Jericho Water District.

Describing his reason for running for the office of Carle Place Water Commissioner, Passariello said, "I will be retiring next year, and I want to give back to the community all of my knowledge and expertise in the water industry."

He added, "I stand for a pure and plentiful water supply - for now and for our grandchildren."

If elected, another goal, he said, would be to "keep the tax rate and the water rate down, so that people can enjoy their current lifestyle."

Passariello has lived in the Carle Place water district for 36 years.

He was also chief of Carle Place Fire Department from 1985 to 1986, and is still a member.

The Carle Place Water District election will take place on Dec. 12, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Cherry Lane School. One must be a registered voter in order to participate.