Challenger Wins in Eastchester Fire Commissioner Election

EASTCHESTER, NY — Town employee Stuart Rabin unseated incumbent Jerry Napolitano in an election for Eastchester Fire Commissioner marked by voter turnout that was not as strong as last year's.

The official results were

• 655 votes for Rabin
• 396 votes for Napolitano

In all, 1,051 votes were cast in the election. In 2015, close to 1,600 residents voted.

A separate and autonomous unit of government, the Eastchester Fire District has the same boundaries as the Town. The Board of Fire Commissioners oversees a budget of $16.9 million for 2017, according to information provided by the district, and is responsible for general administration, appointment of department personnel and the adoption of the annual budget for the department which serves Eastchester, Bronxville and Tuckahoe.

Napolitano was completing his first five-year term on the board.

Both candidates said transparency from the fire commissioners was a top priority. Napolitano had instituted a community outreach system that included a YouTube channel, Twitter account for public safety alerts and regular press releases. Rabin said that wasn't enough, that the board needed a stronger push, according to MyHometownBronxville.com.

Better transparency and community outreach was also an issue in the contested elections in New Castle Fire District No. 1, where voters also unseated an incumbent.