Add The New York Post on Google New York State overturned the results of a Long Island school district’s board of education elections on Thursday after an internal probe accused the clerk in charge of overseeing the vote of trashing ballots to help a local DJ win reelection.
State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa ordered a new race to take place within 60 days just hours after a Hempstead Union Free School District petition surface that claimed District Clerk April Keys tore up ballots and smuggled them out of her office to help re-elect former school board President Victor Prett, a local DJ who goes by the name DJ Vic-Lover.
“The Board appreciates the Commissioner’s expeditious review of this matter, which enables the District to move forward with the revote in accordance with the Commissioner’s ruling,” the district said in a statement to The Post.
The state also appointed a temporary clerk to oversee the new vote — Neil Boyd, who is serving as superintendent for the Putnam-Northern Westchester BOCES.
Hempstead’s attorneys had asked for an annulment of the May 19 election in a petition that was submitted June 15 but only emerged Thursday.
District spokesperson Ron Edelson said no date had been set for a new election.
The Nassau County District Attorney’s office said it was investigating after receiving the school district’s findings.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
