Pride Party takes East Rockaway

The long and often contentious race for the open mayoral and trustee seats in East Rockaway came to an end on Tuesday when candidates from the Pride Party won three seats on the village board.

In the highest voter turnout in almost 20 years, Francis Lenahan, 57, garnered 1,311 votes to Richard Meagher’s 1,094. Meagher, 72, was a Freedom Party candidate. Lenahan’s running mate Stanley Lombardo got 1,262 votes, and Edward Corrado had 1,303. Freedom Party candidates Harry Levitt and Robert Klose had 1,099 and 1,080 votes, respectively.

A total of 2,419 voters turned out, eclipsing the previous high of 2,196, in 1997.

The results of the race were confirmed by the East Rockaway Village Hall on Wednesday morning.

In an unusual move, reporters were barred from the victors’ celebratory speeches, with the door to the American Legion on Main Street locked. Shouts of “Go away!” could be heard from outside, followed by the candidates' speeches and cheers.

When the door opened again, this reporter attempted to enter but was pushed out by a group of young Pride Party supporters.

Meagher said that he was very proud of the Freedom Party’s core group that represented the village’s eight voting districts, as well as the 150 members and other supporters who, in a short time, mounted what he called a “credible campaign against a powerful political machine with very deep pockets and a penchant for attack ads and mailers.

“Hopefully,” Meagher added, “we have laid the groundwork for an effective opposition party to continue to offer alternatives to one-party rule.”

As of press time, Pride Party members had not responded to calls, e-mails or texts requesting comment.

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