Corey Klein wins City Court judge seat

In his bid to become the next City Court judge, Corey Klein, the city’s corporation counsel for 20 years, was declared the winner on Tuesday, when he clinched 57 percent of the votes, while his Republican opponent, Ted Hommel, pulled in 43 percent.

With all 24 of the city’s voting districts reporting, Klein garnered 4,581 votes, while Hommel, a former assistant city attorney, collected 3,477, according to the Nassau County Board of Elections.

Klein announced his candidacy in April, in an attempt to fill the remainder of Judge Roy Tepper’s 10-year term, beginning on Jan. 1.

Tepper — one of two City Court judges, who has held his seat for 30 years — won a 10-year term last November. Since the mandatory retirement age for judges in New York is 70, however, Tepper, who turned 70 in July, can serve only until Jan. 1. Klein will serve the balance of his term.

City Court judges handle arraignments, misdemeanor criminal cases and felony hearings as well as civil cases, building violations, landlord-tenant cases, traffic and parking violations, and real estate and zoning matters.

Klein, a lifelong Long Beach resident who earned a law degree from Hofstra University in 1994, said he had always dreamed of being a judge in his hometown. He told the Herald in April that he wants to bring more modern ideas and improvements to the court system, such as reinstituting night court for traffic and parking cases, and making entering a plea online more efficient to avoid a court appearance.

Some speculated that Assistant Corporation Counsel Rob Agostisi would be tapped for the corporation counsel position, although officials said it was too early to determine who would ultimately fill the seat.

In another race, Democratic City Councilwoman Eileen Goggin lost her bid to become a Nassau County District Court judge. Goggin was seeking an open seat in 2nd District Court, which covers the Town of Hempstead and Long Beach.