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A tony waterfront Long Island village is facing an election “mess” after no one filed paperwork to run for mayor — as residents will have to vote next week anyway.
Bayville won’t have any mayoral candidates listed on election ballots on June 16, so voters will have to choose the North Shore village’s next leader by writing in the name of anyone they want or they think will take the $5,000-a-year gig.
The election is now anyone’s ballgame and a ragtag crew of makeshift candidates are coming out of the woodwork to try to sneak into the top elected post in the village of 7,000, known for its beaches and luxury homes.
“Everybody’s jumping in the race and just because you’ve lived here all your life doesn’t mean you know your community,” former Mayor Victoria Siegel told The Post.
She called the wild situation “a mess,” noting an “awful lot of people all of sudden” want the gig as voters know little about their choices.
The unpredictable election, sparked when Mayor Steve Minicozzi opted not to run for re-election, has led to a cluster of about five or six candidates throwing their hats in the ring at the last minute. Some have no civic experience.
It’s the first time in village history no one will be on the ballot, a village official confirmed.
Minicozzi even said he would keep serving if he got the most votes, Bayville Chamber of Commerce head Vincent Moscato told The Post. The mayor did not return a message from The Post seeking comment.
Moscato said up to eight candidates have expressed interest participating in a mayoral forum with at least four who are definitely expected to appear.
Trustee Anne Walsh said she was shocked no one decided to run until it was too late to have their name printed.
“I think it’s disappointing now because everyone is saying how they want to do it, and I don’t know why they didn’t want to do it ahead of time,” said the longtime resident whose parents were also involved in the village.
Walsh, who is running for reelection to keep her trustee seat, called it “unsettling we’re at this point,” in which someone could slide into office even if they aren’t ready for the demanding gig.
Resident Kathy Notaro said she predicted chaos when Election Day comes next Tuesday.
“I honestly don’t know what to expect,” the 44-year resident said. “Somebody could get 50 people to vote for them and now they’re mayor? It doesn’t make sense.”
Her son, Chris, found the entire situation more nefarious. He thinks this is a dirty play by village government to hand-pick the next mayor.
“It’s crony politics,” he argued. “From the village, the little league, the school board, everything — that’s the story with this town.”
Dennis Finn, who has lived in Bayville most of his life, said most members of his 80-member fishing club were considering writing in their group’s president’s name for mayor.
He joked he might even back someone not old enough to drive.
“There’s a little kid in my fishing club, he’s a good little business person, we always kid that he should run for mayor,” the 68-year-old said.
The candidates’ forum will be held Tuesday at the Crescent Beach Club at 7 p.m.
