Candidate stays on ballot despite death

When Michael Jay died May 20, he'd just finalized a nominating petition to remain on Laurel Hollow's board of trustees.

The 65-year-old attorney had served on the board since 1997 and, in running unopposed, was all but assured re-election June 21.

He still is.

As tributes to the longtime public servant continue -- on Tuesday, the board passed a resolution in his memory -- officials confirmed his name would remain on the ballot. Mayor Harvinder Anand said, in the likelihood Jay defeats any write-in candidates, that he'd appoint a replacement.

That appointee, which Anand said he hadn't settled on, would serve the first year of Jay's two-year term and then have to be elected to finish it.

Jay died unexpectedly at his home of natural causes, village officials said. His family could not be reached.

"You cannot replace him on the ballot, and it was not my intent to do that," Anand said Wednesday, adding that he consulted with the village attorney and the New York Conference of Mayors. "In any case, I think that would also be disrespectful."

The situation, while unusual, is not unprecedented. Last November, a California state senator who died two weeks before Election Day easily defeated her opponent.

Per that state's law, the governor soon called a special election to fill the seat.

Tom Connolly, spokesman for the New York State Board of Elections, said many villages run their own elections. In state-run races, a vacancy committee would choose a replacement, if possible.

"We don't administer, execute or oversee village elections," he said. "They may choose to follow our rules as close as possible, but it's really up to them."

In a bucolic village of about 2,000 residents, set against Cold Spring Harbor, Jay was remembered as passionate for the things that provide the backbone of everyday life.

"The public works part of the village: the roads, highways, beach and drainage system," said Anand. "Anything related to roads or highway, he dedicated a lot of time to it."

Laurel Hollow's memorial resolution, passed Tuesday, will soon be presented to Jay's family.