By MIKE CAPUTO
The couple, Robert and Edith Kushner, were removed from the revised Board of Education-approved list of election inspectors for Tuesday's school budget vote and trustee election.
The Kushners appeared on the original list, which the district clerk annually provides to the school board.
A special board meeting was held on Monday, the eve before the budget vote and trustee elections. It was scheduled after a meeting on May 14, which did not end with a clear decision on election inspectors. There were only four trustees present at the May 14 meeting, and the same motion failed 3-1 because did not yield the required three affirmative votes.
Traditionally, the election inspectors serve at the polls before gaining official approval by the school board. In past years, the board has approved the list of election inspectors, retroactively, on future meeting dates.
Retroactive votes are included within East Meadow school board policy, and are occasionally applied to time-sensitive matters and are based on the recommendations of administration, officials said.
The Kushners have served as inspectors for both the district vote and November elections for more than 10 years. Robert Kushner served on the East Meadow school board for 18 years.
Some school board members expressed concern that the there was a conflict of interest with the Kushners, who they said were seen campaigning for certain
candidates.
Election inspectors are prohibited by law from interfering with the voting process inside the polling place, a process commonly known as "electioneering."
However, beyond 100 feet of the polling site, whether on the day of the election or not, inspectors maintain First Amendment rights like any other citizens, such as handing out fliers or posting signs on their properties.
"This is a violation of my rights," said Robert Kushner, who added that he has not decided if he and his wife would challenge the board's decision in court.
School Superintendent Leon Campo said there have been no filed complaints against the Kushners during their tenure as election inspectors.
The trustees who voted in favor of the revised inspector list that omitted the Kushners were: Steven Jacobs, Abby Rothschild-Kaplan, Al Semonella and Diana DeVito. Those who voted against it were President Brian O'Flaherty and Vice President Walter Skinner, who were also running for re-election on Tuesday.
Skinner initially motioned to approve the original list of election inspectors that included the Kushners. That motion failed, 4-2, with Skinner and O'Flaherty in favor and Jacobs, Rothschild-Kaplan, Semonella and Devito against.
For more on this story, including reactions from trustees and community members, read next week's edition of the Herald. For results of Tuesday's budget vote and trustee election, visit www.liherald.com.
Comments about this story? MCaputo@
liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 287.
