LONG BEACH, N.Y. (AP) — A politician within the New York Metropolis suburbs went for an evening swim within the Atlantic Ocean this previous spring and by no means returned.
Petros Krommidas’ telephone, keys and garments had been discovered on the sands at Lengthy Seaside on Lengthy Island. The 29-year-old former Ivy League rower, who was coaching for a triathlon, had parked his automotive simply off the picturesque wood boardwalk.
Because the months handed, native Democrats tried to subject a alternative to run for the seat within the Nassau County Legislature.
However two Republican voters took them to court docket and gained: a state decide not too long ago ordered Krommidas’ title to stay on the November poll, ruling that he’s nonetheless thought-about lacking and never formally deceased.
Now, as Election Day approaches, voters in Lengthy Seaside and different South Shore communities have a curious selection: reelect the Republican incumbent or the Democrat who seemingly vanished at sea.
Democrats need to elect the lacking candidate
James Hodge is amongst these calling on residents to forged their ballots for Krommidas regardless — hoping to set off a particular election during which Democrats can put ahead one other candidate to run in opposition to County Legislator Patrick Mullaney.
The Lengthy Seaside resident labored with Krommidas on the Nassau County Board of Elections and had been tapped by Democrats to run in his place.
“We need to stand by and honor his name and memory,” Hodge instructed The Related Press. “Let’s give him that victory. It’s the right thing to do.”
The Republican voters argued of their lawsuit that Democrats couldn’t declare Krommidas was useless as a result of authorities nonetheless thought-about him a lacking particular person.
Below legislation, somebody must be lacking for not less than three years to be legally declared useless, they argued.
Choose Gary Knobel agreed, writing in his Sept. 29 ruling that “‘missing person’ status does not qualify as a vacancy that can be filled.”
Useless candidates have gained elections earlier than
The justice, in his ruling, famous the same state of affairs a long time earlier in Alaska.
U.S. Rep. Nicholas Begich Sr. disappeared in a airplane crash weeks earlier than the 1972 vote however nonetheless gained reelection. The Alaska Democrat was finally declared useless, and his Republican opponent claimed the seat in a particular election.
Extra not too long ago, Dennis Hof, proprietor of the Nevada brothel featured on HBO’s “Cathouse” documentary sequence, died weeks earlier than the 2018 election however nonetheless captured a seat within the state Legislature.
In 2020, North Dakota legislative candidate David Andahl died from COVID-19 the month earlier than the election and nonetheless gained.
And in 2022, Pennsylvania state Rep. Anthony DeLuca gained reelection after dying from lymphoma the month prior.
Hodge and different Democrats argue that Republicans solely sued to guarantee themselves victory as they search to bolster their majority within the county legislature. They are saying the lawsuit has solely extended the anguish for Krommidas’ household.
“I understand politics, but there’s a time to stop and be a human being,” mentioned Ellen Lederer-DeFrancesco, who met Krommidas by means of the native Democratic Social gathering. “Petros is someone’s son, brother, friend.”
Nassau County Republican Committee Chairman Joseph Cairo Jr., in a press release, vowed the social gathering and its candidates will “show the highest level of sensitivity during these challenging times for the Krommidas family.”
Krommidas’ household declined to remark when reached by telephone, however his mom and sister every took to Fb not too long ago to share a put up calling for residents to “honor and vote” for him.
“My Peter cared deeply about people and his community and continues to inspire kindness and unity in our community,” his mom, Maria, wrote in her put up.
Eleni-Lemonia Krommidas, his sister, described him in her personal put up as a first-generation American who cherished his nation and “believed in equality, education, and the power of unity.”
Voters weigh in on the seashore the place he vanished
Within the days after his disappearance, household and pals joined first responders in scouring Lengthy Seaside’s broad, greater than 3-mile-long (4.8-kilometer-long) swath of sand, which is positioned simply east of the New York Metropolis borough of Queens.
A few of the lacking individuals fliers they put up with pictures of Krommidas’ youthful, smiling face are tattered and light however nonetheless seen on phone poles round Lengthy Seaside.
In the meantime marketing campaign indicators for Mullaney, his opponent, are prominently displayed on fences alongside the principle thoroughfares and on tidy residential lawns. The Republican didn’t reply to emails looking for remark.
Alongside the Lengthy Seaside boardwalk final week, longtime resident Maude Carione was dumbstruck on the selection going through voters in November.
“It’s insane to leave his name on the ballot. You’ll confuse people,” mentioned the 72-year-old, who helps Republican President Donald Trump however didn’t have plans to vote within the upcoming election, which options principally native races. “In fairness, you have to give another candidate a chance for the Democrats. You have to.”
For resident Regina Pecorella, the choice, whereas grim, was clear.
“If it’s between those two, I’m voting for the person that’s alive,” mentioned the 54-year outdated unbiased, who voted for a straight Republican ticket within the earlier election. “I don’t know how else to answer that.”
Related Press reporter Jack Dura in Bismarck, North Dakota, contributed to this story.
