Contentious Island Park chamber vote set for Dec. 12

Approximately 40 members of the Island Park Chamber of Commerce are expected to show up at the Island Park Jewish Center 191, Long Beach Rd. in Island Park, at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 12 to vote for the president who will lead the organization for the next year.

Unlike most chamber elections, in which succession is set long in advance, this election is primed to be one of the most contentious in record with an upstart group, backed by Long Beach Chamber of Commerce executive vice president Mark Tannenbaum, seeking to take over the leadership from the present president, Glenn Ingoglia.

The present administration seeks to retain Ingoglia as president and install his constant sidekick in the organization, Michael Scully as vice president.

Tannenbaum’s slate include Frank Naudus, Jr., who is running against Ingoglia and Joe Pontecorvo, who is running against Scully.

Tannenbaum is confident.

“I think that Frank and Joe will win because there is a groundswell against Ingoglia in Island Park,” Tannenbaum said.

Ingoglia says, however, that he is confident that he will retain his seat.

“While you never know in an election, I am confident that Mike and I will win.” Ingoglia said.

According to the organization’s bylaws, which were posted to its website late last week after being reworked by the current board of directors, paid-up members as of Nov. 21 will be eligible to vote, approximately 40 members, according to Ingoglia. To be a member, the applicant has to have a business in Island Park or have Island Park clients for a business that is located elsewhere. The vote will be by ballot, and the tally will be taken directly after the vote and announced to the membership.

The contentious campaign has turned into an email battler between Tannenbaum and Ingoglia.

Tannenbaum argues that Ingoglia, who also plans on running for Island Park mayor next year, will be in conflict of interest should he hold both positions. He said that he just wants to help the Island Park chamber do all the good things that the Long Beach chamber now does.

Ingoglia argues that Tannenbaum is an outsider with political aspirations, who only wants to take over the board to satisfy his own agenda.