Complaint filed against Hassett campaign

Just days before the Malverne Village election, one resident filed a complaint challenging the campaign practices of trustee candidate Dr. John Hassett Jr.

Stephen Canzoneri, son of former Malverne Mayor Joseph Canzoneri — chairman of the Independent Party of Malverne — asserted in a letter sent to Village Elections Commissioner Teresa Emmel on March 11 that Hassett violated New York State election law when he failed to file a form authorizing a committee to make campaign financial disclosures.

Without the form, known as the CF-16 form, Hassett — a member of the Village Tea Party — is prohibited from receiving campaign donations and is required to self-finance his campaign, Canzoneri wrote in his letter. But, he noted, Hassett had accepted $941.98 in donations as of March 4.

In response to the challenge, Hassett told the Herald he submitted the form on March 11, after receiving notification from Emmel about the complaint. “We had the form,” he said, “we just didn’t know when we had to file it.”

According to Canzoneri, the CF-16 form must be filed 32 days before the election. The Nassau County Board of Elections will determine whether Hassett violated election law by submitting the form late.