Crime & Safety

West Islip Fire Elections Heat Up

Two incumbents will try and retain commissioner seats.

This year's West Islip Fire District elections will feature two races; both for fire commissioner positions. 

Running unopposed for a three-year unexpired commissioner term is incumbent Joe Badala.  

Badala took over last May for commissioner George Iwasiuk, who decided to step down in the middle of his five-year term.  However, he said that state law requires him to run for the rest of Iwasiuk's term, which has three more years on it.  

Find out what's happening in West Islipwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Badala has accumulated over 16 years of West Islip Fire Department experience, including serving as chief in 2009 and 2010. He's also the president of the Islip Town Fire Chief Association and serves as the safety supervisor of MacArthur Airport.

Find out what's happening in West Islipwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Running for the other five-year commissioner term is incumbent Victor Paduano and Charles Frame.  In 2009, Paduano beat out Ray Rendina to fill in for the rest of then-commissioner Kevin O' Brien's term.  

In addition to serving as commissioner, Paduano has served as captain of the Rescue Squad and currently serves as captain of the Fire Police Unit.  

Badala said that Frame is a retired NYC fireman on disability (contact information could not immediately be found for Frame). Badala said Frame has done little campaigning and has refused invitations to come to WI fire meetings.  

According to their website, the WIFD is the youngest fire department in the Town of Islip.  They serve Good Samaritan Hospital, 13 schools and 8,500 separate structures.  

Residents can vote on Tuesday, Dec. 13 at the WI firehouse from 1-9 p.m. 


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