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Fire district elections include aggressive face-off in Walden
Residents in the Walden Fire District will decide Tuesday whether a longtime incumbent fire commissioner will remain in office or if a young challenger should join the five-member board.
The fire district, better known as the Rescue Hose Company, provides fire protection to an area bounded by Straley Avenue, St. Joseph Hospital and Patton Lane to the north, the New York State Thruway to the east, Broadway to the south and the Buffalo border to the west.
Both candidates, Daniel C. Tybor and James Herr II, have lived the majority of their lives in the district.
Tybor has served in the department for more than 50 years and has held a commissioner's seat in the district for more than 30 years.
Herr, 20, moved to the district with his family from the Cleveland Hill district when he was two years old.
A former chief, Tybor, who was born on Pine Ridge Road, called the fire department his "second life."
Tybor cites his experience as a major reason why he should be reelected. He said that the worst fire he ever battled was in 1954 when he assisted at the Cleveland Hill Elementary School fire that killed 15 students.
"That was quite an experience that I will never forget," Tybor said. "it stays with you."
Tybor said that he enjoys staying active in the fire district and stated he has only missed about 10 meetings in 50 years.
"I enjoy the camaraderie and I get along well with the firefighters," Tybor said.
Herr is certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and basic first aid. He is also a certified member of the Community Emergency Response Team through the Central Police Academy of Erie County.
The response team is a program established by the federal government that, when called upon, aids and assists local first responders in the event of man-made and natural disasters.
"Even though I was brought up in a firefighting family, it wasn't my calling to enter active firefighting duty," Herr said.
Both candidates are heavily involved in the community, including at St. John Gualbert's parish.
Herr joined the Pine Hill Drum and Bugle Corps in Fall 2004 and is a recording secretary for the student government at Erie Community College.
Tybor is a life member of the Walden Taxpayers Association and previously volunteered for Catholic Charities and was a member of the Rotary Club and Professional Businessman's Association.
One of the reasons that Herr said he is running for commissioner is to provide citizens with a voice on a board that has consisted entirely of firefighters for several years.
"A democratic post such as that shouldn't be controlled by the firefighters that control the money for their department," Herr said.
Tybor's supporters say that commissioners with firefighting experience are better attuned to a fire department's needs.
Herr said that although he isn't a firefighter, he understands the needs of fire departments.
"If a fire chief came up to me and said 'we need 50 new SCBAs,' I know that SCBA means self-contained breathing apparatus," Herr said. "You can throw the terms at me and I will understand."
Tybor said he is practically an expert on insurance from his experience in business and as a commissioner. His experience, he said, has helped the district improve its insurance rating from "bb" to the highest rating of "AA."
"After all the seminars I've attended in umpteen years, I'm well versed in firematics, equipment and manpower," Tybor said. "Our training and equipment has kept taxes level or lowered in the last ten years."
Tybor noted that the district is subjected to New York State audits, and its records are reviewed annually by an independent auditor. Herr noted that the auditor is hired by the district, and he questions the accuracy of state audits.
Literature supporting Tybor's campaign stated that Herr said he was endorsed by Town Clerk Mary Holtz and Congressman Brian Higgins when that apparently wasn't the case.
Herr told the Times that he withdrew both Holtz's and Higgins' names when he heard there was a dispute, and said that his exuberance led to listing them as endorsers.
He said that he asked Holtz for her support during the height of the October 12-13 storm and misinterpreted support for endorsement. Holtz, he said, did not want to be involved in the district race.
Holtz confirmed with the Times that she didn't know which position Herr was running for when he approached her.
The fire hall at 20 Pine Ridge Road, just north of Walden Avenue, will be open for voting between 5:30-9 p.m.
Both candidates are offering to provide rides to the polls for residents.
To schedule a ride, call the individual campaigns, Herr at 893-2449 or Tybor at 892-8859.
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