Montville ― During a secret ballot vote earlier this month, firefighters from the Mohegan Fire Company elected Matthew Suarez, the department’s former assistant deputy chief, to be their new chief.

Suarez replaces Corey Gaetano ― chief for the past six years.

Every two years, the department holds an election to decide who will be new chief, while elections for deputy and assistant deputy chief, are held every year. Those elections are held at the department’s annual membership meeting.

According to a press release from the department last week, Gaetano had sought re-election.

Suarez said Monday that out of 24 firefighters who voted, 17 had voted for him. The other seven voted for Gaetano.

“I was definitely happy to have the position, and am looking forward to moving the company forward into the future, as well as remembering where we came from,” Suarez said. “We need to get back to our roots of providing service to the town.”

Suarez, who in December will have served 16 years at the department working his way up through lieutenant, captain and assistant deputy chief, is on the town’s Building Code Board of Appeals and served 22 years in the Navy.

At the same meeting, Deputy Chief Daniel Addock was reelected and Matthew Oullette, who was fourth in command, was elected as assistant deputy chief.

Gaetano could not be reached for comment Monday.

d.drainville@theday.com