Topping Takes Fire Commissioner Seat in Bridgehampton

Ray Topping, Jr. won a seat on the Bridgehampton Fire District Board of Commissioners by just 10 votes on Tuesday evening, in an that brought out nearly 200 voters.

received 102 votes, while his opponent got 92.

A former chief and now a third generation commissioner, Topping will replace Cliff Foster, who will step down at the end of the month.

Dombkowski served as fire commissioner from 1997 to 2007, but was unseated in 2007.

Also on the ballot, district treasurer Charles Butler was re-elected with 175 votes. One person, Robert Guyer, was written-in for the position and the rest of the voters abstained, according to Harry Halsey on behalf of the district.

Bridgehampton Fire District covers much of Wainscott, Sagaponack, Bridgehampton, and some of Water Mill.

District elections usually have a low turnout, though this year's contested race brought out 194 voters in Bridgehampton, more than 50 that came out for the referendum to for $3.9 million, which passed in October. Fifty people voted in last year's uncontested election.

Topping will serve along chairman Steve Halsey, John Muse, Jeffrey Loucheim, and Fred Wilford. All fire district terms are five years.

Low turnout is exactly what the rest of the fire districts' elections received on Tuesday night. There were no contested races in Amagansett, Springs and Montauk.

In Montauk, 33 voters cast ballots. Incumbent commissioner Joe Dryer received 30 votes, according district secretary-treasurer Terri Czeczotka, whom one voter wrote in on the ballot. Robert Gosman's name was also written in.

Dryer was this year's chairman of the board. He will continue to serve with Vincent Carillo, Ed Sullivan, Carmine Marino, and Dick White.

Springs Fire District secretary Danna Miller reported that was elected. He received 27 of 29 votes cast. He will replace Patrick Lyons, who is stepping down. Ann Glennon was re-elected as the district treasurer with 29 votes. 

The Amagansett Fire District reported a whopping 17 ballots cast. Incumbent J. Kent Howie received 15 votes and Danny Lester received 2.