Controversy Surrounds Long Island Election
A political storm has brewed over the presence of an 83-year-old grandmother, Maria Delgado, on the Working Families Party ballot in the Huntington City supervisor race. Her candidacy has raised eyebrows, especially since the signatures on her petition appear to stem from individuals who haven’t lived at the listed address for years.
Public records reveal that the town officials indicated as witnesses on Delgado’s petition have been absent from that Greenlawn address for at least four years. In fact, the current residents claim they never signed her petition at all, according to reports from a local news outlet.
Moreover, the chief of the Huntington Manor Fire Department, who also signed the petition, hasn’t stepped forward to clarify his involvement.
Officials from the Suffolk County Board of Elections stated that unless there’s a legal requirement to invalidate her petition, it remains valid, meaning Delgado will stay on the ballot.
Her candidacy notably shifted the balance of the election, drawing liberal votes away from the Democratic challenger, Cooper Macko, helping incumbent Republican Supervisor Ed Smith retain his seat.
Initially, Delgado claimed she was unaware of her ballot position, but she has since remained silent. Interestingly, a visitor to her home recently suggested that he was aware of her candidacy, saying, “She ran and lost. I’m proud of her.”
Reactions from the political landscape have varied, with many expressing outrage—except for the town’s Republicans. Thomas McNally, Chairman of the Huntington Town Republican Party, criticized the situation, asserting that the Working Families Party had effectively chosen their own candidate, contrary to the Democratic Party’s wishes.
McNally pointed out that Democrats failed to win against the Working Families in June, adding, “What we’re seeing now are rough, sour grapes after the election.” He claimed Delgado was aware of her role on the ballot and participated in the primaries.
On the flip side, representatives from the state’s Working Families Party voiced their disapproval, alleging that Republicans misled voters and distorted the electoral process. The co-chairs emphasized that what transpired in Huntington reflects a disregard for democracy and the struggles of working families.
While the Board of Elections has not made any comments until prompted by inquiries about the petition, they indicated that no objections were made at the time of Delgado’s filing. A spokesperson noted there were minor issues that were corrected but insisted they lacked the authority for a deeper investigation.
In a related development, the office of state Attorney General Letitia James announced it is reviewing the election results, although they refrained from calling it a formal investigation.
