Manorhaven's Case of the Missing Notarization

It's been said that all politics are local and it doesn't get much more local than the Village of Manorhaven. Court papers were filed this week by Mayor Michael T. Meehan and Patrick Gibson, a candidate for a Board of Trustee seat, in an attempt to disqualify Giovanna Giunta from the mayoral race.

Apparently, one of the forms that must be submitted in order to run is missing Giunta's notarized signature. A state judge indicated that a decision as to whether the form is valid or not will be made next week.

"In my opinion, Mayor Meehan and his trustee candidate Patrick Gibson initiated this unnecessary legal action solely to gain uncontested elections and crush the will of the people," Giunta said. "In the process, they shamelessly wasted taxpayers' dollars by forcing the Village Clerk to appear in court instead of handling village affairs. Also, by hiring outside counsel to advise the clerk and by having Village Attorney Gerard Terry himself appear in court, it wasted taxpayer dollars. Who do you think pays for all this?"

Meehan, who is running for his second term, said he believes that the Manorhaven Revival Party, consisting of Giovanna Giunta, Dorit Zeevi-Farrington and Mark Lazarovic, isn't capable of running village affairs.

"I did not file court papers to disqualify other candidates," Meehan said. "I filed those papers to expose my opponents as incompetent in matters of responsibility and procedure. Those are two essential elements in government. I am certain that they are not up to the task."

Giunta said she believes that the mayor's actions were extreme. "It only demonstrates his lack of confidence about the upcoming elections," Giunta said. "No wonder, given his minimal contributions to the welfare of the village and the well-being of the residents. The people see through his actions."

After Thursday night's village meeting, there was an encounter between Meehan and Giunta that was less than pleasant, at least for Giunta. The mayor strongly questioned the mayoral candidate's creditability, qualifications and motives. Both said they would welcome a debate, should one be arranged.

In the meantime, the cell phone tower on Pequot Avenue remains idle and the stop work order remains in effect. The wheels of justice move slowly but probably just in time for the June election. It's now up to the voters to decide whether the best man, or woman, should win.

The trustee election will take place on Tuesday, June 15, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Village Hall, located at 33 Manorhaven Blvd.