Smith v. Board of Elections

196 Misc. 109, 91 N.Y.S.2d 357, 1949 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2590
CourtNew York Supreme Court
DecidedAugust 23, 1949
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 196 Misc. 109 (Smith v. Board of Elections) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering New York Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Smith v. Board of Elections, 196 Misc. 109, 91 N.Y.S.2d 357, 1949 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2590 (N.Y. Super. Ct. 1949).

Opinion

Murray, J.

The motion is one by petitioner, Edgar A. Smith, a resident and qualified voter in the fourth ward of the city of Schenectady, New York, for the court to determine and declare a certificate, which certificate was filed with the board of elections, Schenectady County July 9, 1949, designating him as the regular Republican nominee for the office of supervisor of the fourth ward of the city of Schenectady on the Republican primary ballot is valid and that a certificate filed August 4, 1949, with the board of elections of Schenectady County designating Joseph Coppola as the Republican nominee for the same office at the same 1949 primary election is invalid and further that the board of elections commissioners be directed to place .petitioner’s name on the Republican primary ballot by a drawing by lot as a candidate for the office of supervisor of the fourth ward in the city of Schenectady.

The facts presented for consideration are not in dispute. Decision must be made on the documents and papers in this matter on file with the board of elections of Schenectady County and the proceedings had thereon by said board. They áre in evidence and briefly are as follows: . ’

A resolution in accordance with section 136-a of the Election Law stating that on the 7th day of July, 1949, at a regular meeting of the fourth ward Republican county committeemen Edgar A. Smith of No. 102 Jay Street, Schenectady, New York, was designated as the regular candidate of the Republican party at the 1949 primary election for the office of supervisor of the fourth ward of the city of Schenectady, New York. This designating certificate is signed by the chairman of the fourth ward [111]*111Republican county commiteemen and also by the secretary of the fourth ward Republican county committeemen. It was received and filed with the board of elections on the 9th day of July, 1949.

Two petitions and certificates of designation signed by the requisite number of Republican enrolled voters of the fourth ward of Schenectady which designated petitioner, Edgar A. Smith, as the Republican candidate for the office of supervisor of the fourth ward at the 1949 primary election. One such petition and certificate of designation was filed with the board of elections on July 27,1949 and the other on August 2,1949.

A paper signed and acknowledged by Edgar A. Smith accepting pursuant to law his designation as a candidate for nomination for the office of supervisor of the fourth ward by the Republican party at the primary election to be held September 6, 1949. Such acceptance by Smith was filed with the board of elections on the 5th day of August, 1949.

Exhibit “ A ” annexed to the motion papers of petitioner of a notice to candidates of drawing by lot addressed to Smith and his vacancy committee by the commissioners of election that in accordance with section 103 [§ 104, in Election Law enacted by L. 1949, ch. 100] of the Election Law that a drawing by lot would take place at the office of the commissioners of election on Saturday, August 6, 1949, at 10:00 a.m. to determine the order in which petitioner’s name shall appear as a candidate for the office of supervisor, fourth ward, on the Republican party primary ballot. The notice and exhibit bears no date.

A paper signed by six Republican committeemen of the fourth ward of the city of Schenectady wherein in person they disavow and disapprove of the certification of Edgar A. Smith, enrolled Democrat as the Republican designee for supervisor of the fourth ward which designation was filed with the commissioners of election of Schenectady County on July 9, 1949. There is also annexed with such paper a resolution dated August 3,1949, signed by Edward Pelott, chairman, and Nicholas N. Dinardo that the action taken by members of the Republican county committeemen in designating Edgar A. Smith, an enrolled Democrat, is rescinded and revoked and that Joseph Coppola, an enrolled Republican is indorsed as the candidate of the Republican party for the office of supervisor of the fourth ward of the city of Schenectady. Such paper and resolution was filed with the commissioners of election of Schenectady County, August 4, 1949.

[112]*112A letter addressed to Edgar A.‘Smith- as follows:-’ ,---¡

" . “August 12,1949 A’1
Edgar A. Smith A. ,'A '
102 Jay St., '/ ' ’ Vy -
Schenectady, N. Y., A’ A. ,
Dear Sir: — "A
The Republican Committeemen of the 4th Ward, of the City of Schenectady, have disavowed and disapproved a certification of Edgar A. Smith, enrolled Democrat, as the Republican designee for Supervisor for the 4th ward of said city to entitle him to be a candidate of the Republican Party in the Primary to be held on the 6th day of September, 1949, said certificate being dated July 7th, 1949, and filed in the office of the Election Commissioners of Schenectady Cbunty on:the 9th of July, 1949.!
Therefore, your name will not appear on the ’ Republican Party Primary ballot for the primary to be held Sept. 6th,'i9J9.
Board of Elections,
-CMS , By {Signed) Henry C. Fag al '
Commissioner of Elections., ”

Surprisingly and of interest- in passing it appears!from the records on file with the board of elections that the resolution adopted by fourth ward Republican county committeemen in and by which Edgar A. Smith was designated as the regular! candidate of the Republican Party for the office of supervisor of-the fourth ward, is signed and attested by Edward Pelott as secretary of such fourth ward Republican : county -committeemen whereas the resolution rescinding and revoking such nomination is signed by the same person, Edward Pelott as -chairman of such committeemen. In short Pelott signed the respective -resolutions both ways, one in favor- -of the nomination of Mn- -Smith and the other against ib ■ - • ; ■ , - . .

On this motion no objections or questions have been raised or interposed as to the timeliness, the regularity, form or sufficiency of the petition and certificate of designation of the Republican enrolled voters of the fourth ward designating Mr. Smith 'as their candidate for the office of supervisor, particularly- so, no objections of any kind or nature were ever filed- with the board of elections of Schenectady County pursuant to section 145 (L. 1949, ch. 100) of the Election Law that the petition as filed on behalf of Mr. Smith was insufficient. - - - ■ . •

The sole and only reason for rejection of the petition and designation of Mr. Smith, regular on its face in every respect in [113]*113conformity with the Election Law, is a resolution filed with the board of elections by certain Republican committeemen of the fourth ward which purports to disavow and rescind the certificate of designation of Mr. Smith by the fourth ward Republican county committeemen at a regular meeting of such committeemen held on the 7th day of July, 1949.

■ Acting solely on such resolution of disavowal, without a hearing of any nature accorded Mr. Smith, a letter was sent to Mr. Smith as hereinbefore quoted judicially and peremptorily stating, “ Therefore, your name will not appear on the Republican Party Primary ballot for the primary to be held Sept. 6th, 1949 ”. (Emphasis supplied.)

.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Matter of Neil D. Breslin v. Connors
2004 NY Slip Op 24290 (New York Supreme Court, Albany County, 2004)
Breslin v. Conners
4 Misc. 3d 952 (New York Supreme Court, 2004)
Reich v. Bosco
21 Misc. 2d 973 (New York Supreme Court, 1959)
Counts v. Smith
2 A.D.2d 652 (Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of New York, 1956)
English v. Curran
206 Misc. 709 (New York Supreme Court, 1954)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
196 Misc. 109, 91 N.Y.S.2d 357, 1949 N.Y. Misc. LEXIS 2590, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/smith-v-board-of-elections-nysupct-1949.