Emeagwali seeks to get back on Dems' ballot

A would-be Democratic candidate for a new Assembly district has asked the state Supreme Court to nullify a Nassau County Board of Elections ruling that knocked him off the ballot.

Patrick Emeagwali, an Elmont school board member and college professor, wants the court to void the county decision and place him on the Sept. 13 ballot. A hearing on the issue is set for Thursday.

If successful, Emeagwali would join three other Democrats on the ballot.

Emeagwali filed more than the 500 petitions necessary to qualify for the race. But the Board of Elections ruled that just 315 signatures were valid and declared him ineligible, Elections Commissioner William T. Biamonte said.

Emeagwali's attorney, Gerard Bambrick of Carle Place, said the board made factual errors in disqualifying some signatures and that objections to his petitions were improperly filed by the county Democratic Committee.

Patricia Maher, Michaelle Solages -- who is backed by the Democratic Committee -- and Milagros Vicente have qualified for the primary, he said. The winner will face Sean Wright, who has the Republican line.

The new district, created earlier this year during the decennial redistricting process, covers Bellerose, Elmont, Valley Stream and North Woodmere, among other areas.