Oceanside school board nominations open

Posted

The filing deadline for Oceanside school board candidates has been reopened after Austin Graff, who was running against incumbent Michael D’Ambrosio for the board, dropped out of the race on April 23, because he felt he was treated unfairly by the Oceanside Council of PTAs as it organized the May 2 candidates forum, which has since been canceled. According to state law, this re-opened the period for potential school board candidates.

The Oceanside Council of PTAs sent certified mail on April 18 to Graff and D’Ambrosio asking if they would attend the forum. It gave them a deadline of April 22 at 3 p.m. to respond.

Pat Assortato, director of the Nassau Region PTA said, “Forums are usually held one to two weeks before the election date. Invitations to candidates to participate in the forum cannot be sent out until the filing deadline to ensure that all candidates have filed a valid petition and met the legal requirements to be placed on the school ballot. This year that was April 18. It is recommended that the invitation be sent by certified mail with return receipt requested with a specific deadline for response.”

Wendy Swords, Oceanside PTA Council President, called both Graff and D’Ambrosio at 2 p.m. on April 22 to ask if they had received the letter. During that phone call she said she took the opportunity to ask if they would participate in the forum.

D’Ambrosio said he told her during that call that he was not taking part. He added that Swords asked for his response in writing. She then told both candidates they had until 5 p.m. to respond in writing, which was later extended, by the Oceanside Council of PTAs, to 6 p.m.

There was a deadline for both candidates because the Nassau Regional PTA needed to know if they had to provide staff. Graff told Swords he would attend the forum if D’Ambrosio would attend. He also felt that the April 22 deadline was unfair because it was during his Passover Seder.

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