Fire Chief Reelected To Serve Final Term

Fire Chief Brian Potter will once again lead Mahwah’s in 2012, after he was reelected during the fire department elections Monday.

First and Second Assistant Chiefs Ed Garza and Brad Stio were also reelected to the posts they held in 2011. All three ran unopposed in the company-wide elections.

“I am very happy and I am looking forward to leading the department once again,” Potter said. “I want to thank the members of the fire department for trusting me with this important job.”

However, 2012 will be his last year as Chief.

“We have a two-year term limit for the fire chief position, and this will be my second year,” Potter, who previously served as an assistant chief, said. “But the assistant chief positions do not have term limits.”

Although the officers were not challenged by fellow firefighters for the leadership roles, Potter said normal elections were carried out because write-in candidates are allowed. Votes were counted after the polls closed at 9 p.m. Monday.

Potter, Garza and Stio will be sworn in during a ceremony on January 1, along with the individual company captains and lieutenants. Company captains will be elected in December, Potter said.

See more about the 2011 swearing-in ceremony, and who the current fire officers are, .