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GREENBURGH, N.Y. — Unlike last year, the Fairview Fire District will see a contest in this year's board of commissioners elections, pitting longtime incumbent and board Chair Vikki Simmons against Greenburgh resident Brian Montgomery.
One of five commissioners is elected every five years in each of Greenburgh's three fire districts of Hartsdale, Fairview and Greenville, putting one member in each district up for re-election each year.
Neither Simmons nor Montgomery could be reached for comment.
Elections turnout is generally low — less than 5 percent among eligible voters — for commission elections, but Fairview Fire District Secretary Thalia Mauro said it varies by year.
"It could be up to 200 people some years," Mauro said.
All fire district elections for commissioners will take place Tuesday. For Fairview elections, residents can vote at either the Fairview Fire Headquarters, 19 Rosemont Blvd., or Fairview Fire Station No. 2, 290 Worthington Road, between 5 and 9 p.m.
One main role of the commissioners is establishing the yearly budget and implementing the tax rate. This year, Fairview commissioners approved an $11.7 million budget proposal that would increase the tax rate by 6 percent.
Simmons has been on the Fairview Fire District board for 20 years. In 2010, Simmons was one of nine commissioners to serve on the Fire Department Consolidation and Government Efficiency Commission, formed to examine the feasibility of consolidating Greenburgh's three fire districts. Ultimately, Simmons and other Fairview representatives found consolidation efforts were up to to town residents and the idea was rejected.
Check back with The Greenburgh Daily Voice for more information on Greenburgh fire district elections.
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