The members of the reaffirmed their confidence in their leadership Thursday night, voting to keep their current chiefs for a second year.
Chief Rodney "Chip" Pierson, First Assistant Chief Dennis Roy and Second Assistant Chief Michael Kampf were each re-elected, according to department spokesman Capt. Chris Brenner.
Traditionally, the second assistant chief serves for two years, ascends to first assistant for two years, then to chief for two years. But the annual elections are more than just a formality: They leave open the real possibility that a chief who has not met expectations could be ousted, though that has not happened in recent memory.
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Pierson's immediate predecessor as chief, Roy "Buddy" Wines IV, for a seat on the Southampton Fire District Board of Commissioners as his two years as the chief was coming to an end in 2010.
The fire department serves Southampton Village, Tuckahoe, Shinnecock Hills, the and parts of Water Mill.
