Local Government

Controversy surrounds town board appointments

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The Hempstead town board appointed Bruce Blakeman and Erin King Sweeney to fill vacancies in the 3rd and 5th Councilmatic Districts on Jan. 13, despite objections by Councilwoman Dorothy Goosby and residents of the 5th District.

“I object not to the individuals,” Goosby said, “but the process without any input from the citizens of these districts.”

The board voted four in favor and one against for the appointments of Blakeman, who represents the southwest part of the town, and King Sweeney, who has the southeast corner. Blakeman will assume the town board seat left open by former Councilman James Darcy’s judicial appointment, and King Sweeney will take the seat left open by Councilwoman Angie Cullin’s resignation.

The appointments did not appear on the Town of Hempstead calendar, and were announced to the end of the administrative calendar as Resolutions 50 and 51.

Goosby moved to table the resolutions and requested that the town board move for a special election. “Consider what we are doing here,” Goosby said. “Those voting tonight do not represent the people of the 3rd or 5th Councilmatic Districts. This is a very undemocratic process.”

The Town of Hempstead has six councilmatic districts. The 3rd District includes Atlantic Beach, East Atlantic Beach, Inwood, Lawrence, Valley Stream and Meadowmere Park; and portions of Cedarhurst, Franklin Square, Malverne, West Hempstead, and Woodmere. The 5th District covers Lido Beach and Point Lookout; and parts of Baldwin, Bellmore, Freeport, Merrick, Seaford and Wantagh.

The vacancy of two seats meant that the appointments affected one third of town residents. “These appointments are a violation of the Voting Rights Act, especially in the 5th District,” Goosby said, pointing to a number of minorities from that district that live in Freeport and Baldwin. The Voting Rights Act of 1965 prohibits racial discrimination in voting and prohibits any state or local government from imposing any voting law that results in discrimination against minorities.

But Councilman Anthony Santino told Goosby, “Your thinking is faulty, your research is faulty,” he said. “Our only other option would be to leave the positions vacant.”

Santino added that state law prohibits towns from holding special elections. He cited Section 64 of town law. “This leaves us with no alternative other than to leave the seats vacant, which denies representation to 33 percent of the town,” he said.

But some residents still questioned the appointments.

“We are disappointed that we had to find out like this,” said Karen Montalbano, president of the Baldwin Civic Association. “But we look forward to meeting our new representative to make her aware of our concerns.”

“I’m upset about this appointment; it smacks of nepotism,” said Joanne Flora, of Baldwin, referring to the appointment of King Sweeney, daughter of Congressman Peter King.

“Cullin hasn’t been around since last August,” Donna Cazaza, of Baldwin, said. “This is so disingenuous. She couldn’t resign earlier so we could have elected someone in November? Now we have a Republican appointment.”

Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray explained that Cullin “had fallen and that precipitated her retirement. You need to be respectful.”

“She served with distinction,” Santino added.

“This is not personal,” Cazaza replied. “We vote once a year. It’s just so ironic that two positions are open now.”

Blakeman, in November, lost a bid for Congress to Kathleen Rice. Kevin Brady, of Levittown, questioned his appointment. “I’m concerned that he has only lived in the Town of Hempstead for a few weeks. Wasn’t he living in Long Beach?”

“He recently moved, but was raised in Valley Stream,” Murray replied.

“He served in the County Legislature in the Five Towns and has deep roots in the Town of Hempstead,” added Santino.

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