Scalesi Running for Bellmore Fire Commissioner

(Editor's Note: Bellmore Patch requested editorials from each of the candidates for fire commissioner.)

From John Scalesi Jr.:

John Scalesi Jr. is running for Commissioner of the Bellmore Fire District.

Scalesi will save the taxpayer money by bringing a vision of fiscal responsibility with every dollar entrusted to the fire commission, and doing it intelligently, having given 25 years of service to the Bellmore Fire Department.

He has proposed saving every household nearly $100 a year by having the town take over the private Aqua water company maintenance of the fire hydrants in Bellmore, which costs the taxpayers more than $500,000 a year.

Saving money does not mean spending more money, as some of his opponents have suggested. By switching to green products and implementing simple energy reduction practices, the fire department can reduce everyday expenses by reducing the energy used by the fire department without reducing services.

Scalesi will work with surrounding fire districts to consolidate the ordering of supplies, procuring insurance and consolidating training facilities with other departments at Four Towns Training Center to reduce costs to taxpayers.

Although Scalesi believes there are ways to save money, he will not sacrifice the safety of the members of the department, nor the safety of the community. He will continue to help advance the department’s training, and provide the best equipment possible to protect the residents of Bellmore.

Scalesi, a lifelong resident of Bellmore, was voted Bellmore's Community Person of the Year in 2010.

He was voted as Fireman of the Year in 1991 by Newsday, he is a four-time captain, has three county awards for lifesaving, four town awards for fire and community service, is a New York State fire inspector, an American Red Cross instructor and an inspector for the New York State Boxing Commission.

Honorably discharged from the U.S. Army, Scalesi retired from the Nassau County Sheriff’s Department, has served as a past president of both the Kiwanis Club and Lions Club, and is a member of the Sons of Italy.

He volunteers several hours a week to the Mepham High School Key Club.

Please vote for John Scalesi Jr. on Tuesday, Dec. 13.

Voting will be held at the Bellmore Fire Department headquarters, 222 Pettit Ave., from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.