End of Reel at BOE

Weber’s Would-be Candidacy Denied

By Erica Jackson and Jay Beatty

September 12, 2007

SMITHTOWN, NY -- The Suffolk County Board of Elections (BOE) has officially rejected the designating petitions of Kings Park resident Steve Weber, who had collected some 1,700 signatures in an independent bid for a seat on the Smithtown Town Council. The filmmaker had hoped to appear on the November ballot as a candidate for the two town board seats at stake.

Weber’s BOE submission was denied on Tuesday after party activists from both the Smithtown Republican and Democratic organization filed objections. (At right, Weber and daughter Angel at the BOE in Yaphank.) Among the specific deficiencies cited by the challengers was that the signers failed to identify the township in which they reside as required by New York State Election Law. A comparison of the forms used by the successful major party candidates shows a preprinted listing of the required “town”—Smithtown, for example -- following the space in which signers enter their residential address. Most signers of Weber’s petition simply wrote in addresses, using the hamlet -- Commack, Hauppauge, or Kings Park, for example – which they use in their mailing address.

Listed as “objectors’ on the challenges were Randy Shaw, Richard Glasheen and John E. Gee, for the Republicans and Tony Clement for the Democrats.

“I see this as political posturing to exclude an independent candidate, but I will accept the Board of Elections decision as final,” said Weber of the election board’s rejection. He feels it is a shame that the system makes it difficult for an independent candidate such as himself to run for office.

“I could have hired an attorney to fight this,” added Weber, “but that is just the point; individual people should be able to come forward without having to hire political advisors.” Prior to filing his petitions, Weber said he did educate himself on election law, as well as seek help from BOE officials.

He said he has learned a lot more about election law now that he has been through the process and will be sure not to make the same mistake again. “In the end, I have networked with knowledgeable people and, next time, I am certain I will be successful,” Weber declared.

Had he been able to make his intended run for office and ultimately been elected, Weber says he would have used his business experience to help unite the town board to address important issues. He also planned to introduce new legislation that would aim to improve the downtown Smithtown business district with new technology to draw in crowds.

Even with Weber out of the running, Republicans and Democrats alike say they are looking forward to election season. The Democratic council candidates are attorney Tom Cleere of Smithtown and educator Bruce Ettenberg of Commack, a team that has been set since May. The Republican slate, however, will not be finally determined until after the September 18 primary elections. At their convention in May, the GOP designated incumbent Councilman Edward Wehrheim and former Suffolk County Police Commissioner Robert Creighton. Creighton was the party’s choice over a second incumbent, Councilwoman Joanne Gray, who has been at odds with Wehrheim for some time. All three hail from Kings Park.

The embattled Gray has launched a fierce challenge to retain her seat. She successfully collected Republican petitions to force the September GOP showdown, but was unable to garner sufficient signatures to ensure a nomination by the Integrity Party would guarantee a spot on the November ballot. As it stands, if she does not finish first or second in the primary voting, she is off the general election ballot.

Irrespective of the primary results, Wehrheim and Creighton have November ballot lines as the nominees of both the Independence and Conservative Parties.

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