NEWSFLASH: ELECTION RESULTS UPDATE

After a re-canvassing of districts in the 14th LD, there are new numbers from the Nassau County Board of Elections. Democrat Dave Mejias has increased his margin of victory by 290 votes. The numbers could increase.As of today the numbers are: Mejias - 8043 Sabellico - 7351 So much for King and Schmitt talking smack about this race. So Mejias' margin of victory was better than the two close races with Republican incumbents.

Ciotti-Mirza - 681
Ford-Solomon - 601
Mejias-Sabellico - 692 (so far)

Schmitt Misreads Election Results

You can always count on Schmitt to misread the facts right in front of his face. Other than being lucky to be in a "safe" republican district, Schmitt has very little political skills. He might have worked his way through the republican party but all that takes is the right amount of butt-kissing and waiting your "turn."

According to the Massapequa Post, Schmitt said of the election results ".....it was clear voters weren’t voting party lines. "That’s evident by the town’s overwhelming support for Republicans,"

What was clear is that for Democrats to win in heavily republican districts and in Nassau County in general, they need a number of republicans to cross party lines. The Town of Oyster Bay elections favored republicans because they voted party lines for those candidates. Republicans have the voter registration edge in the Town and won. In the legisaltive districts, Democrats did well despite voter registration numbers.

Schmitt also says "...that Republicans could also take some consolation in that fact that while they didn’t gain anything, they didn’t lose anything either."

What is he talking about? Republicans LOST the District Attorney race. Democrat Kathleen Rice, a newcomer, beat Dennis Dillon by a healthy margin.

Schmitt was just as delusional two years ago when he told the Post the same exact thing "We didn’t lose anything and we didn’t gain anything,"

Two years ago Democrat Harvey Levinson beat republican County Assessor Charles O'Shea. How is that not losing anything.

One thing is for sure, Schmitt sticks to his talking points no matter how many times he is proven wrong by the facts.

Schmitt continues about this years race, "Two years from now there will be no county executive race, then we’ll see if Mejias" who he called Suozzi’s stamp, "can stand on his own."

Well let's see..... two years ago in 2003, Dave Mejias beat republican Greg Carman and there was no county executive race. Dave Mejias stood on his own two years ago and won and then he won re-election in the face of a massize and expensive attack campaign by the PBA and the republicans. Mejias ran and won against two very well-known and well-financed republicans in a republican district. Seems Schmitt is a little sore that he ran Sabellico's campaign so poorly.

A Funny Thing Happend at the Polling Place

There are many stories of shenanigans on election day out there and here is one of them:

On Election Day November 8th, 2005 12th LD candidate Craig Heller barnstormed the district to reach more voters.
By the afternoon, Heller was at the Unqua Elemnetary School on Unqua Road in Massapequa Park. Being an attorney and a smart guy, he knew he could campaign 100 feet from a polling place. That's the law. There was even a sign posted by the poll workers to designate the line in the sand so to speak. These signs are ubiquitous at polling places around the county and state.
So Heller handed out literature to voters walking to the polling place and engaging some in conversation.
There didn't seem to be a problem until a man walked out from the polling place and confronted Heller. He pointedly said "You can't be out here." To which Heller responded "Yes I can. I am outside the 100 foot boundry." Actually, Heller was about 20 feet outside the boundry.
Heller pointed to the sign well behind him and said "See, there's the sign. I can be out here as long as I don't cross that line."
The man seemed to be flumoxed and marched over to the sign posted on the tree and tore the sign down. He crumpled up the sign, pointed to the street and said "Now you have to stand over there." Turning on his heels, he marched back into the Unqua school.
Odd. Very odd.
Not being swayed by a petulant man-child and the attempted intimidation, Heller remained where he was standing and continued to greet voters. A couple of people asked if he was supposed to be out there and he explained about the missing sign.
About 15 minutes later, another man came out of the polling place and replaced the sign. He approached Heller and said "It doesn't help you being out here. You may lose votes by standing out here."
Heller was unconcerned about this subtle form of intimidation and again said "I am allowed to be here. I am far away from the sign." He then recounted what happend to the original sign. The poll worker said that the man who did not do that was not a poll worker but most likely a poll watcher.
Since there were no Democratic poll watchers at that location and other would know better, the sign ripper was a republican pol watcher which means he was probably a commiteeman. What's the problem with republicans and ripping down signs anyway? Is this their "thing?"
Anyway, there is the story of a petty little republican trying to intimidate a Democratic candidate at a polling place.
I bet he was proud of what he did.
I bet he told all his buddies.
I bet he doesn't realize how stupid he looked.

So Schmitt Wins

Once again, voter registration lines hold fast.
Two more years for the webiste to inform voters about Schmitt's lies and two more years for Schmitt to add to his long list of lies.
One consolation is that Schmitt ran Sabellico's campaign and Sabellico lost.

Craig Heller for Legislature

Newsday reiterates Heller endorsement over Schmitt

12th LD: Craig Heller, 45, Democrat of North Massapequa has good ideas for handling tough issues

Contradictions Part 1

From 14th LD candidate Tom Sabellico's website:
"Police overtime is bloated and response time is down."
"I believe that we can increase the force without any extraordinary expense because of the savings generated by less overtime."

PBA President Gary Delaraba endorses Sabellico "14th District - Thomas Sabellico"

PBA President Gary Delaraba and some other union bosses go through arbitration to gain money for "lost overtime."
According to the NYTimes "Mr. Suozzi has lashed out at the police union's president, Gary DelaRaba, over an arbitration award raising his salary to $175,000 on the ground that he lost overtime and promotion pay because of union duties. Mr. DelaRaba's salary is $66,000 more than Mr. Suozzi's and $20,000 more than the police commissioner's. "

When asked about how he could take the PBA endorsement from Delaraba while railing against "bloated" overtime, Sabellco could not answer the question. Farmingdale residents call TeamSabellico at 516-370-5512 or e-mail him at teamSabellico@aol.com. Ask Tom what he really believes in and why he took the endorsement.

Who else complained about too much overtime and took Delaraba's endorsement? Why it's Tom Sabellico's campaign manager, Legislator Peter Schmitt "Overtime pay for this year is budgeted to be $35 million," said Schmitt. "In an attempt to alleviate the overtime problem, the County has decimated the Special Operations Unit of the Police Department."

Newsday gives Schmitt Challenger Heller Glowing Endorsement

12th DISTRICT
Southeast Nassau
Republican Peter Schmitt, the legislature's iron-fisted minority leader, seeks a sixth term. He is responsive to the needs in his district and we have endorsed him in the past. Over the last four years, however, Schmitt, 55, of Massapequa has turned into a GOP attack dog instead of a leader who understands the need for bi-partisan governing. He's just too intransigent.

Newcomer Craig Heller, 45, of North Massapequa is an attractive Democratic alternative. A real estate attorney, Heller has an impressive command of the tough issues facing Nassau. He's eager to find ways to reduce school taxes and has met with local school superintendents in an effort to unite them in a campaign to change the state aid formula.
Newsday endorses Heller.

Massapequa Post's Strange Moves

We've never seen the Post criticize Schmitt. There have been letters in opposition to Schmitt but he has always been given the opportunity to respond.
In the 2003 election, the Post endorsed Schmitt which is thier right but out of all the races weher they endorsed, the Schmitt endorsement did not mention the challenger John Rennhack by name.
"12th LD: At the local level, Republican Peter Schmitt is seeking reelection. He has been a dogged advocate for the residents of his district and we extend our unreserved endorsement to him.
Schmitt is not only acutely aware of the issues that impact on his district but also the countywide issues that impact on all Nassau residents. As the Legislature’s minority leader, he brings a level of political sophistication to the county scene, and political clout to Massapequas. He has been an outstanding representative.
One of the best things about Schmitt is that he’s a politician who tells it like it is. We may not always like what we hear, or agree with his views, but with Schmitt you know what you get. That’s a precious and refreshing commodity in this day and age. He’s earned the Post’s endorsement for reelection to the Nassau County legislature"
We can dispute most of this endorsement but that's the past.
Now in 2005 the same thing has happend. And endorsement of Schmitt with no mention of the challenger. The other races have the unendorsed candidate mentioned but not Craig Heller. This is twice now.
Curioser and Curioser.
In early 2003 a spate of letters were published in the Post criticizing Schmitt. Schmitt did respond to the letters but the letter writer smacked down each and every lie Schmitt tried to tell.
For some reason those months of the Massapequa Posts archives are no longer accessible.
Luckily the same letters exchange are available at the Massapequan Observer Archives.

http://www.antonnews.com/massapequanobserver/2003/02/07/opinion/
http://www.antonnews.com/massapequanobserver/2003/02/14/opinion/
http://www.antonnews.com/massapequanobserver/2003/03/14/opinion/
http://www.antonnews.com/massapequanobserver/2003/03/28/opinion/

Schmitt forced the end of the exchange when he took his ball and went home.