The scandal-scarred Democrat hoping to lead the US’ largest township is suing it, accusing GOP leaders of illegally installing his November opponent to the post — after the current seatholder abruptly stepped down.
Joseph Scianablo, the Democratic hopeful running for Hempstead supervisor, is slamming town Republicans for staging a “backroom deal” — in violation of the state’s open meetings law — to appoint John Ferretti to the seat after Supervisor Don Clavin resigned in the middle of a board meeting earlier this month, a lawsuit filed Monday claimed.
“What happened in the Town of Hempstead is not democracy,” Scianablo told reporters moments after filing the suit in Nassau Supreme Court.
Scianablo and Ferretti, a former Nassau County legislator, are set to square off on Nov. 4.
Republican leaders knew well in advance, the Democrat argued, that Clavin was stepping down on Aug. 5 and Ferretti would immediately be anointed his successor — but failed to properly notify residents in advance, allegedly a violation of state law.
Ferretti’s family was in attendance and well-dressed for the occasion, according to Scianablo.
He argued the fix was in — when Ferretti conducted an interview with Newsday where he admitted to having “a couple of days” notice that he would likely be appointed.
However, the Republican-led town fired back that they expect the “meritless case” to be tossed out of court.
“This publicity stunt by Joe Scianablo demonstrates a total lack of knowledge regarding local government,” Ferretti’s spokesperson Brian Devine told The Post.
Hempstead officials claimed they had no advanced notice of Clavin’s resignation.
But the Democrat also accused Republicans of quickly leveraging Ferretti’s new-found incumbency to juice his election campaign, noting that within hours of his appointment the new supervisor’s name was plastered on Town Hall and the campaign quickly swapped their November slogan to “Return John Ferretti.”
The judge is being asked to rescind Ferretti’s interim appointment, force Hempstead officials to undergo transparency training, and order the town to cover the cost of Scianablo’s legal fees, according to the court filing.
Town attorney John Maccarone, a Republican, told The Post that under current law, the board was under no obligation to list Clavin’s resignation or Ferretti’s appointment on the public agenda in advance.
“There is no legal necessity for a resolution,” Maccarone said.
Meanwhile, Ferretti’s allies said the lawsuit is simply a distraction from Scianablo’s own baggage — namely a wild 2008 Facebook post where the Democrat allegedly wrote that he had “s–t” himself while watching “animal porn.”
The explosive post, dug up shortly after Scianablo launched his run for supervisor, has continually dogged his campaign.
Republicans have branded it disqualifying, arguing someone who once joked about bestiality has no business running the town’s top post — which oversees Hempstead’s animal shelter.
Scianablo has flat out denied penning the post, insisting his “dopey” brother was behind the prank and even previously produced a statement from him taking responsibility.
There is currently no date set on the court calendar for the litigation.
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