Adjournment in battle over candidate John Quirk's petition signatures
The Theodore Roosevelt Executive and Legislative Building is at 1550 Franklin Ave. in the village of Mineola. It is the seat of Nassau County government. The building, also known the Old Nassau County Courthouse, was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. (June 26, 2012) Credit: Amy Onorato
A challenge to independent candidate John Quirk’s petitions to run for the Nassau County Legislature as a Libertarian was adjourned on Friday until this coming Friday, Sept. 13, because the State Supreme Court judge was not in court.
Court spokesman Daniel Bagnuola could not confirm that Justice Arthur Diamond was out because of the Jewish holiday Rosh Hashanah, but said that roughly half the court’s judges did not come in on Friday.
Oyster Bay resident Richard LaMarca, who is a registered Republican, challenged about 650 signatures which would be enough to keep Quirk off the ballot for an open seat in the 18th Legislative District. Quirk, a district superintendent for the New York City Department of Sanitation, said that he was confident that he had enough signatures that could be verified as legitimate to get on the ballot.
“It just wastes taxpayers’ money,” Quirk said of the legal proceedings. “If you look through some of these [challenges], it’s ridiculous.”
Quirk said he had to take off work to go to court and would need to take off work again because of the adjournment.
LaMarca’s attorney, Kenneth Gray, who is a partner at the Mineola-based law firm Bee, Ready, Fishbein, Hatter & Donovan, LLP, said, “There are enough objectionable signatures that will invalidate the petition as a whole.” The law firm is known for representing Republicans in election cases, including the Nassau Republican Committee.
LaMarca did not return a call on Friday for comment.
If Quirk makes it on the ballot, he will face Republican Donald MacKenzie, an Oyster Bay Water District commissioner, and Oyster Bay Democratic leader David Gugerty in the general election.
The county board of elections has yet to review the challenges.
Celebrating individuals making an impact From a Long Islander living out his American dream, pioneers in aviation and a school mariachi band, NewsdayTV celebrates Hispanic Herritage Month.
Celebrating individuals making an impact From a Long Islander living out his American dream, pioneers in aviation and a school mariachi band, NewsdayTV celebrates Hispanic Herritage Month.
