Friday, November 20, 2009
Hasidic voting issues linger in Town of Bethel elections
While absentee ballots in Bethel won't change outcomes in town races, the issue of whether newly registered Hasidic residents from several bungalow colonies will be allowed to vote in future elections will linger into the winter.
Incumbent Councilwoman Denise Frangipane picked up a few votes over Benjamin Friehling for a seat on the Town Council, the only race in doubt.
Frangipane, a Democrat, and Republican incumbent Richard Crumley will take the two seats. Supervisor Dan Sturm also easily won in his race against former Supervisor Harold Russell.
While Frangipane held a sizable lead over Friehling, there was a possibility her race would be thrown into state Supreme Court next week.
That's because some 89 ballots from newly registered Hasidic voters from the bungalow colonies were challenge and have not yet been counted.
After other absentees were counted, Frangipane unofficially held a 126-vote lead, meaning that the 89 challenged ballots can't affect the race. The Board of Elections will review each challenged ballot to determine if they should be counted.
It is likely, however, the issue will wind up in court this winter. Hasidic groups began a voter drive this summer after the town and the Brooklyn-based United Talmudical Academy went to court over the rapid construction of a shul on Schultz Road.
"We challenged the validity of the registrations," Legislator David Sager said.
He vowed to press on until the law is clarified to determine if the new registrations meet the residency requirement.
"We are not just challenging the votes of a certain election. This has long-term implications."
Moshe Goldberger, who newly switched his registration from a Brooklyn address, drove up to watch the opening.
He owns a piece of land in Bethel, and a mobile home on Route 17B.
"The only reason I was challenged is because I am Hasidic," Goldberger said. "I proved to the Board of Elections there was a house there."
http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091120/NEWS/911200355
Incumbent Councilwoman Denise Frangipane picked up a few votes over Benjamin Friehling for a seat on the Town Council, the only race in doubt.
Frangipane, a Democrat, and Republican incumbent Richard Crumley will take the two seats. Supervisor Dan Sturm also easily won in his race against former Supervisor Harold Russell.
While Frangipane held a sizable lead over Friehling, there was a possibility her race would be thrown into state Supreme Court next week.
That's because some 89 ballots from newly registered Hasidic voters from the bungalow colonies were challenge and have not yet been counted.
After other absentees were counted, Frangipane unofficially held a 126-vote lead, meaning that the 89 challenged ballots can't affect the race. The Board of Elections will review each challenged ballot to determine if they should be counted.
It is likely, however, the issue will wind up in court this winter. Hasidic groups began a voter drive this summer after the town and the Brooklyn-based United Talmudical Academy went to court over the rapid construction of a shul on Schultz Road.
"We challenged the validity of the registrations," Legislator David Sager said.
He vowed to press on until the law is clarified to determine if the new registrations meet the residency requirement.
"We are not just challenging the votes of a certain election. This has long-term implications."
Moshe Goldberger, who newly switched his registration from a Brooklyn address, drove up to watch the opening.
He owns a piece of land in Bethel, and a mobile home on Route 17B.
"The only reason I was challenged is because I am Hasidic," Goldberger said. "I proved to the Board of Elections there was a house there."
http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091120/NEWS/911200355
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