Syosset Fire Commissioner Election Candidates

Below are the bio's of the candidates up for election for the Syosset Fire Department Commissioner position. Voting takes place Tuesday at from 2 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Christian Pieper 

Christian Pieper has dedicated his entire adult life to the Syosset Fire Department and has served the community as a Commissioner of the Syosset Fire District since 2007.  Born and raised in Syosset, Pieper joined the SFD in 1988 and rose through the ranks, eventually becoming Chief of Department in 2005. As Chief, Pieper began an enhanced recruitment campaign, doubling the number of new recruits annually, and successfully petitioned the Commissioners to form a dedicated Emergency Medical Services (EMS) company to address a rise in ambulance calls. He also received the Nassau County Fire Commission's Silver Medal of Valor.

Residents can visit "Re-elect Christian Pieper for Syosset Fire Commissioner" on Facebook for more details. As a Commissioner, Pieper has worked on initiatives to continue providing the Fire District's residents with a professional level of fire and EMS services while assuring the safety of the SFD's volunteers.  He has also continued to support the SFD's recruitment campaign, yielding 27 new recruits this year alone, and worked with his fellow Commissioners to expand the District's paid Paramedic coverage to 24-hours a day.

This year, Commissioner Pieper worked on the SFD's truck committee as the Board purchased a new 100-foot ladder truck without encumbering the taxpayers with a bond and its associated interest costs. Pieper and his fellow Commissioners worked to hold the Fire District budget for 2011 to just a 1.2% increase – virtually the rate of inflation, despite increases of 15% or more in key areas outside the District's control such as health care costs, pensions contributions and increased insurance costs, as well as mandated purchases of additional safety equipment for the members.

Chris Pieper is also a dedicated husband and father to four boys.  He and his wife Meredith are very active in the autism community and he was very proud to bring his two passions – the fire service and his family's support of his son with autism – together this past October as the Fire Department welcomed the Nassau-Suffolk Services for Autism organization to host a bake sale during the annual Fire Prevention Day Open House.

Rohit (Roy) Dhawan

A 30-year resident of Syosset, Roy is a 1984 graduate of Syosset High School.  After graduation, he attended both Pace University and Nassau Community College pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice. 

In April of 1990 he was sworn in as a Police Officer with the New York City Police Department. He subsequently received a number of citations and awards for excellent and meritorious police work.

In 1991, Roy joined the Syosset Volunteer Fire Department.  Shortly thereafter he was elected Lieutenant of his Fire Company.  In 1998 he was elected Captain, has held that position numerous times, and currently holds that office today.  As Captain, he is responsible for conducting monthly meetings and drills, which help maintain the knowledge and proficiency of his members and also provides the administrative skills necessary for the effective operation of the Company. Roy is also Department Chief Chauffeur.  A responsibility of that position is overseeing the Department's driver training program. Members must complete the program prior to driving any of the department's vehicles. Roy has held this position since 2006; a yearly appointed position by the Chief's Office.

Roy resides with his wife and two children on Arizona Avenue located within one block of Department Headquarters on Cold Spring Road.  He understands and supports the concerns of his neighbors and other residents regarding the possible development of property owned by the Fire District.  This includes the possible construction of a District Office building on the northeast corner of Orchard St. and Cold Spring Road (a.k.a. 83 Cold Spring Road).  

In 2011 the Syosset Fire District will have the highest budget in Nassau County; an honor held many times in recent years.  Roy believes that measures need to be taken to lower the budget, which can be accomplished without jeopardizing the safety and well-being of fire department members as well as the community. Roy strongly believes that in these tough economic times fiscal responsibility should prevail, and the already overtaxed taxpayers deserve a break.

Robert Manfredonia

Robert was not able to be reached as of Wednesday, but Syosset Patch will try to contact him for his biography and thoughts before next Tuesday's election.