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The PORT TIMES RECORD P O R T J E F F E R S O N • B E L L E T E R R E • P O R T J E F F E R S O N S TAT I O N • T E R R Y V I L L E
Vol. 36, No. 28
June 1, 2023
$1.00
Suffolk elections board invalidates Sheprow’s petitions, removes mayoral candidate from June 20 ballot
BY RAYMOND JANIS EDITOR1@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM
One-on-one with Lauren Sheprow Port Jeff trustee on her earlier bid for mayor
A12 The Little Mermaid makes a splash at the box office
Also: NSGC Flower show heads to Deepwells, Cinderella waltzes over to Theatre Three
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The mayoral race in the Village of Port Jefferson just took a shocking twist. In the upcoming village election on June 20, trustee Lauren Sheprow and Deputy Mayor Kathianne Snaden are vying to succeed incumbent Mayor Margot Garant, who is running for Town of Brookhaven supervisor. Following a meeting of the Suffolk County Board of Elections on Tuesday, May 30, Sheprow’s petitions were ruled invalid. This ruling removes Sheprow’s name from the ballot. In a statement, Sheprow said her opponent challenged her petitions due to an error on her cover sheet. In the face of the decision, she pledged to continue her mayoral
campaign, now running as a writein candidate. “My opponent’s campaign and its lawyers challenged my petitions, and due to an issue with the cover sheet, the Suffolk County Board of Elections on May 30 determined that my name cannot be placed on the ballot,” Sheprow said in a statement. She added, “I am committed to continuing my campaign for mayor even if it means I’ll be a ‘writein’ candidate. It may be an uphill battle, but I will not quit the people of Port Jefferson.” [See page A22 for complete statement.] A statement issued by The Unity Party, the ticket under which Snaden is running alongside trustee Stan Loucks, clarifies how the challenges to Sheprow’s petitions first came about. “The Unity Party requested,
Golden Rule sails into Port Jeff Harbor BY AIDAN JOHNSON DESK@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM
SPACE RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBER ADDRESS
The Golden Rule, a peace ship operated by Veterans for Peace, docked in Port Jeff on Friday, May 26, encouraging conversations about ending wars, raising environmental consciousness and promoting nuclear disarmament. Over a dozen people welcomed the vessel into Port Jeff Harbor. As it arrived, crew members, led by Captain Steve Buck, symbolically asked permission to dock and come ashore from members of the Setalcott Nation. This Native American tribe had initially inhabited the land.
through the Freedom of Information Act, all documents related to Ms. Sheprow’s petition filing,” the statement said. “Upon discovering several defects, including the lack of a cover page, resident signatures on blank petition forms and other inconsistencies, a challenge to Ms. Sheprow’s election documents was filed. The SCBOE reviewed the challenge and found the deficiencies identified to not only be fatal, but also incurable.” In the same statement, Snaden commented on the outcome: “While this decision will be disappointing to some, we should take pride that the law and process were followed. I have the utmost respect for the integrity of the bipartisan SCBOE and the decisions they make. Following the rules with transparency and integrity are the
Myrna Gordon, a member of the North Country Peace Group and coordinator of the docking c e r e m o n y, said plans The Golden Rule, a peace ship for the event manned by Veterans for Peace, were in the enters Port Jefferson Harbor. Photo works for over by Aidan Johnson four months. NCPG had also collaborated with the South Country Peace Group and the Conscience Bay Quakers, among other local peace groups. Veterans for Peace were looking for a North
COMPUTERIZED WATER ANALYSIS
47 JAYNE BLVD., PORT JEFFERSON STATION NEXT TO JIFFY LUBE
hallmarks of good government.” The Suffolk County Board of Elections declined to comment for this story, referring inquiries to the Village of Port Jefferson clerk’s office. In a phone interview, Village clerk Barbara Sakovich said she was not involved in the decisions leading up to the ruling, maintaining that her position is strictly administrative. “A mayoral challenge was submitted, and it then was brought to the Board of Elections,” she said. “The commissioners met, and the determination was made by them, not at the village level.” Sakovich said the appeals process will be open until the end of business on Friday, saying, “I’m assuming if there is any change, the Board of Elections will notify me.”
Shore harbor to dock their ship. When their original plans to bring their boat to Northport didn’t work out, Port Jefferson was suggested. “I jumped on board and said this is the most beautiful harbor on the North Shore,” Gordon said. “We have a park. We have all the facilities. We have an agreeable government who will willingly accept the boat for a few days.” After docking, Catherine Green, a representative of Suffolk County Legislator Kara Hahn (D-Setauket), read a proclamation in which the Suffolk County Legislature recognized the efforts of the crew of the Golden Rule in the cause of peace on earth. Town of Brookhaven Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich (D-Stony Brook) also presented a proclamation on behalf of Brookhaven, establishing the date as Veterans for Peace Day.
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