Judge will decide on winner for Sanitary District 1 election

In what appears to be the never-ending legal scuffling over the July 11 Sanitary District 1 commissioner’s election, challenger Gabriel Boxer, along with his attorney John Ciampoli, were putting forward motions to disqualify absentee ballots that should not be counted towards the final vote.

A court hearing on April 25 indicated that Judge Randy Sue Marber is close to declaring a winner after months in court.

According to Ciampoli, Tom Garry, who represents S.D. 1, and Alison Lewis, the attorney representing appointed Commissioner Gwynette Campbell, are requesting the court to deny Boxer’s motion and to move the case along.

Campbell, a resident of Inwood, was appointed to the commissioner post last April replacing Lino Viola who stepped down. Incumbent Commissioner Jim Vilardi ran unopposed and gained re-election.

“The other side is trying to get me to settle the case by recognizing that Campbell won and saying they will fix everything that was wrong with the election in the future,” Ciampoli said. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

On Election Night Hewlett resident Boxer led 395 to 288 but went to court two days after to determine the legality of how S.D. 1 issued and reviewed absentee ballot applications and the distribution of those ballots to decide whether to count the ballots towards the vote.

A canvassing of the ballots took place on March 23 through March 28, where more than 900 ballots were opened and tallied.

The unofficial count then had Campbell in the lead  762 to 554.

During the canvass, Ciampoli objected to more than 700 ballots and objections ranged from the date a ballot was stamped, a signature not appearing to match on file with the district or a voter registered to vote.

The turn in the counting had Boxer noticeably upset and he previously told the Herald that the election was corrupt and had asked the court to grant him a new election under court supervision.

When asked whether Boxer is aware of the judge close to declaring a winner soon, Ciampoli said he did not inform his client yet.

No new court date has been scheduled. Both sides are awaiting a phone call from Marber.

“Court will now make a decision,” Gerry said in a text message.

Since the first court date last July, Ciampoli has said he would settle with two options: to give his client a new election or to be announced as the winner based on the polling machines on Election Night.

In the event that Boxer is not granted either, Ciampoli said he wouldn’t rule out a visit to Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly.

“Once the judge calls us in for a hearing, it’s all on paper,” Ciampoli said.

Established in 1929 by the Hempstead Town Board, Sanitary District 1 collects the recycling and trash of more than 50,000 residents and at various commercial and institutional properties in the Five Towns and positions of Lynbrook and Green Acres.