In the already-heated race for Village of Cobleskill trustee, the Board of Elections has denied Carol McGuire’s challenge to Bob LaPietra’s petition.
Ms. McGuire field a four-page challenge to Mr. LaPietra’s petition Thursday, questioning his residency, whether a number of signatures on it were those of registered voters, and on other “technical” issues such as dates, said Board of Elections’ Ellen Snowden.
Ms. Snowden said the challenges were forwarded to Election Commissioners Lewis Wilson and Cliff Hay and yesterday she confirmed that Ms. McGuire’s challenge had been denied; Mr. LaPietra remains on the ballot.
“Obviously, it’s good news,” said Mr. LaPietra. “The voters will have a choice and we’ll have an election. That’s all I ever wanted.”
Ms. McGuire’s petition was denied on technical grounds, not on whether the specifics were valid or not.
According to Ms. Snowden, when the general challenge is filed, it’s Board of Elections responsibility to notify the commissioners as well as the candidate being challenged.
However, she said, when the specific objections were filed by Ms. McGuire as required by Thursday’s deadline, it became her responsibility to notify Mr. LaPietra of them, which she didn’t do.
Ms. McGuire said she’s been advised by her lawyer not to comment on either Mr. LaPietra or her challenge, but said in light of the commissioners’ ruling, she will be consulting an expert on election law.
Mr. LaPietra, who unsuccessfully challenged Mike Sellers and Bill Gilmore in a three-way race for mayor in 2005, said he wasn’t surprised by Ms. McGuire’s challenge.
“The woman’s desperate,” he said. “I’m her nemesis. I’m her worst nightmare. She has a lot to account for.”
Mr. LaPietra said his petition lists his voting address as 784 East Main Street, where he rents out the lower floor to Canine Cosmetician; he plans to move into an apartment on the second floor at the end of the month, “and if she doesn’t believe me, she can come check the sheets herself.”
However in questioning Mr. LaPietra’s residency, Ms. McGuire said the apartments are not legal, are not in compliance with village code, and the issue will be in State Supreme Court on Setember 10.
Ms. McGuire’s petition also charges that 49 of the signatures on Mr. LaPietra’s petition are invalid and should be tossed, and for that reason alone, his petition should not be allowed.