The upcoming Greenville Fire District (GFD) election on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, will be contested, with two candidates vying for a single open seat on the Board of Commissioners. Incumbent Walter Groden is seeking re-election, facing a challenge from Lou Russo. Each candidate has provided the ECC with a brief biography to distribute:
Incumbent Walter Groden currently serves as the Chair of the Board of Fire Commissioners, a role he was selected for by his peers on the Board. Walter has been a volunteer with GFD since the 1970’s, and has served as an elected member of the board for over two decades. He had a long and successful career in the fire protection industry, and also served as the Westchester County Fire Coordinator in the late 90’s. Walter served as a committee member on technical committees that develop fire safety standards that are used nationally, including the standards for residential solar panels and rechargeable lithium-Ion batteries. Within the Greenville Volunteer Company, Walter has held the position of Lieutenant and Assistant Fire Chief. A lifelong resident of Edgemont, including owning a home across from Seely Place school for the past 48 years, Walter has a deep love and respect for our community and the standards that the residents have come to expect. He has spent his life ensuring that, through the fire department, his neighbors feel safe and are taken care of. With over five decades of fire protection experience, Walter has witnessed the continuous evolution of challenges in the built environment. His commitment to learning and adapting ensures he remains prepared to address these changes. Walter seeks to leverage his extensive expertise to continue to serve the community and support the fire department in navigating the complexities of modern fire safety and risk management.
Lou Russo brings nearly 40 years of firefighting experience and 35 years in financial management as a CPA, auditor, and risk professional. He has held various fire department leadership and trusted roles including Deputy Chief, President and Treasurer across two different departments. Lou’s auditing experience includes government accounting clients like the Town of Greenburgh, schools, and hospitals, giving him a strong financial background to directly benefit our Fire District. Lou’s commitment to Edgemont and Fire District is strong, deep, and multigenerational. Lou started volunteering as a firefighter in 1985 when he was an Edgemont student and is an active firefighter today. Not only did Lou and all his children graduate from Edgemont, his father was in the first Edgemont class in 1957. From Lou’s Grandfather, to Lou’s sons and daughter, all have served Edgemont as volunteer firefighters. Therefore, Lou will prioritize long-term planning over short-term thinking. Lou has also volunteered as a coach for many of your children in soccer, baseball, football, etc. As Commissioner, Lou will use his vast first responder / emergency service experience along with his analytical and financial skills to make fact based informed decisions to benefit our Community. Lou will make sure we prioritize allocating our tax dollars to first responders who actually protect and save lives over adding unnecessary administrative personnel. Lou will enact policies to encourage volunteerism and put a stop to the unnecessary barriers to volunteerism that are being put in place. Lou will prioritize career and volunteer staff receiving the training, tools and equipment needed for excellent service. Lou will ensure overtime is fair and given solely for the benefit of the Edgemont community. Lou will prioritize adequate staffing for your safety. Lou will bring more transparency and accountability to the district. Lou will prioritize excellent service that is fiscally responsible!
This Fire District election will take place on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, between 6:00 P.M. and 9:00 P.M. at the Greenville Fire District Headquarters, 711 Central Avenue, Scarsdale (across from Frank & Joe’s Deli). No absentee ballots are available. Voters will have the opportunity to decide who will serve a five-year term as commissioner, commencing on January 1, 2025, and ending on December 31, 2029. Mark your calendars today.
All registered residents of the Greenville Fire District as of November 18, 2024, are eligible to vote. While the Edgemont Community Council has a policy not to endorse specific candidates, we strongly encourage all eligible residents to participate in the election process.
Sincerely,
Dylan F. Pyne
President, The Edgemont Community Council