In April, New York State Superintendent of Insurance Gregory Serio and Nassau County District Attorney Denis Dillon announced the arrest of Richard Meinhardt, commissioner of the Syosset Fire District, for allegedly submitting falsified documents in an attempt to obtain Firefighters Workers' Compensation benefits.

Meinhardt's seat on the board of commissioners was up for re-election this year. Dan Percell and Dale Caines are running for the open seat.

The Syosset Fire District covers 17.5 sq. miles, the largest coverage area in Nassau County, made up of residential, commercial and industrial buildings. Syosset Fire District is responsible for fire protection and prevention as well as fire inspections and emergency medical services. It encompasses Syosset, Woodbury, and parts of Oyster Bay Cove, Muttontown and Laurel Hollow. The Syosset Board of Fire Commissioners is a five-member board with each member serving a 5-year term. Voting is taking place on Tuesday, Dec. 14 from 2 - 9 p.m. at Syosset Fire Headquarters, located at 50 Cold Spring Road, Syosset. To vote, residents of the Syosset Fire District, must be registered to vote.

Dan Percell, a 35-year resident of Syosset and a 1981 graduate of Syosset High School is running for fire commissioner as he feels he would bring a great deal to the board as fire commissioner of the Syosset Fire District and be an advocate to the volunteer firefighters.

Percell is an active member of community groups, including Residents for a More Beautiful Syosset, and resides in the Teibrook Gardens section of Syosset with his wife Christina and stepdaughters Jennifer and Samantha. He is seeking to bring decades of fire service experience and community activism to the position of fire commissioner.

"I don't think credentials alone make for the perfect fire commissioner - you have to have the dedication and know what is going on in the community and listen to the membership of the fire department that you are going to represent," said Percell. "That is what I am hoping to do. I want to have a balance between making sure the taxpayers' needs are met and that the membership has everything to do their job."

Percell has an associate degree in electronic technology from Grumman Data Systems Institute and is a member of Syosset Fire Company No. 1 since 1982. He is the current Syosset Fire Department Assistant Treasurer and Trustee of Syosset Fire Co. No. 1. He is also a former lieutenant and secretary of Syosset Fire Co. No. 1 and a member of many state and county firematic associations.

"After two decades of firefighting, spending most of my life as a Syosset resident and a community activist I feel that I would bring a lot to the board as fire commissioner of the Syosset Fire District and be an advocate to the volunteer firefighters," said Percell. "I want to keep the volunteer service alive. It is hard for people to keep a job and volunteer, especially in our area. It is a big commitment and I would like to keep that up."

Dale Caines, a resident of Syosset for over 35 years, is running for election to the board of fire commissioners based on his experience and believes that experience counts.

He served as chief of the Syosset Department from 1984-86 and 1992-94. In the 89-year history of the Syosset Fire Department, Caines is the only person to hold the position of chief twice and he is very proud of that.

Caines is an active member of the Syosset Volunteer Fire Department for over 25 years and a certified emergency medical technician. He is a member of the New York Sate Fire Chiefs Association and a New York State Certified Fire Instructor - Level II.

Caines has a Bachelor's Degree from Adelphi University in business management and a Bachelor's of Science Degree from Empire State in fire administration and 20 years of experience in fire and rescue management. He has been the Superintendent of the Bethpage Fire Department for 15 years, a position that he feels gives him a great deal of experience.

"Being the Superintendent of the Bethpage Fire Department for the last 15 years has allowed me the opportunity to get to know the ins and outs of a fire district," said Caines. "I know what has to be done. It would be a turnkey operation for me. I know the business and have done it for 15 years. All Fire Districts are governed by the same laws so there is no learning curve here. I have experience and that is very important in this position."

Caines was honored by the South Syosset Republican Club in 2000 when the club awarded him the Teddy Award, which honors outstanding community service. "That meant a great deal to me," said Caines.