By Steve Israel Times Herald-Record Published: 7:49 AM - 04/03/14 Last updated: 7:55 AM - 04/03/14 MONTICELLO — A nasty election characterized by accusations of anti-Semitism and voter fraud came to an explosive end in a courtroom Wednesday. Rural Heritage Party challenger Frank Gerardi, who opposed the 396-home Hasidic development at the center of the election, will next week take office as the new mayor of the tiny eastern Sullivan County Village of Bloomingburg. A Sullivan County state Supreme Court Judge upheld the challenges to more than 100 unopened ballots – of more than 200 cast – leaving Gerardi beating incumbent Mayor Mark Berentsen by a 90-28 margin. Eleven ballots will be opened by the Sullivan County Board of Elections Thursday, when Gerardi and his Rural Heritage Party running mates for village trustees and village justice are officially declared the winners. Related Stories Bloomingburg: Judge denies Shalom Lamms lawers motion for recusalBloomingburg mikvah plan discussedBloomingburg trustee says canceled board meeting was about budgetBloomingburg Planning Board meeting lacks quorumBloomingburg election moves into the courtroomChallenges to delay Bloomingburg outcomeMore than 120 votes still to be counted in BloomingburgFBI raids Developers Shalom Lamms properties in Bloomingburg$5M Bloomingburg plant to begin operating soonPine Bush board to explore zoning district over concerns of bloc voteFBI presence at locations owned by controversial Bloomingburg developerVIDEO: Comments on the FBI presence in Bloomingburg140 people have registered to vote in Bloomingburg, and opponents of developer are challenging the actionDeveloper Shalom Lamm appeals ruling to uphold Bloomingburg village petitionsJudge dismisses Bloomingburg developer Shalom Lamm’s voter-petition challenges Even though he wasnt in court, the developer of those homes, Shalom Lamm, loomed large over Wednesdays five hour session. Lamm was the target of attacks from Gerardis lawyers and Judge Stephan Schick for what Schick called “an attempt to stuff the ballot box” and for asking that the case be dismissed because all of the voters Lamms opponents challenged “have one thing in common, identifiable Jewish surnames.” Lamms lawyer, John Ciampoli, also had asked that Schick recuse himself because he claimed the judges wife appeared in a pre-election social media posting which featured anti-Hasidic comments. Schick lashed out at Lamm because of the accusations of anti-Semitism. “If theres anything worse than anti-Semitism, its (false) accusations of anti Semitism,” he said. Earlier in the day, Lamm – a Berentsen supporter whose own residency was challenged and upheld – had withdrawn from the case. “(I) instructed my attorneys to not pursue any litigation standing in the way of certifying the election,” he said in a statement, noting this was “not a reflection on the merits of the case but a decision that moving forward is not in the long-term best interests of Bloomingburg.” Lamm, who offered an “olive branch”... “even to those who have said and written regrettable things,” didnt show up in court to answer a subpoena issued by Gerardis lawyers. That clearly angered the lawyers – and Schick. Attorney Alan Goldston essentially accused Lamm of trying to rig the election – something the federal government is apparently investigating. The FBI last month raided Lamms office and several of his buildings where many of the voters whose residency was challenged said they lived. Lamm “organized, arranged and induced over 100 people to come to Bloomingburg for the purpose of swamping an election,” Goldston said about the voters who registered in the month or two before the March election. “I think youre correct,” Schick said. In fact, when Sullivan County sheriffs visited 61 of those residences, they found “no one was living there,” said Sullivan County Assistant Attorney Tom Cawley. Sitting almost unnoticed in the courtroom was Gerardi, a retired school maintenance worker who owned a cleaning business. “Justice has prevailed; he (Lamm) thought we were all asleep and we woke up,” he said when it was clear he was the winner. “I get sworn in on (April) 7th and the new law and order starts on the 8th.” sisrael@th-record
Posted on: Thu, 03 Apr 2014 13:11:35 +0000
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