LONG BEACH, N.Y. (AP) — In an extraordinary development in the New York City suburbs, a candidate who went missing during a night swim in the Atlantic Ocean this past spring will remain on the ballot as Election Day approaches.
Petros Krommidas, a former Ivy League rower training for a triathlon, vanished without a trace, leaving his personal belongings on the sands of Long Beach. At 29 years old, he was set to contest a seat in the Nassau County Legislature.
Despite efforts by local Democrats to appoint a replacement, a lawsuit filed by two Republican voters resulted in a court ruling that allows Krommidas' name to stay on the November ballot. This legal decision stems from the fact that Krommidas is still considered a missing person and has not been declared deceased.
As the election nears, voters find themselves with an unusual choice: to reelect the Republican incumbent or to vote for a Democrat who seemingly vanished at sea. James Hodge, a Long Beach resident and colleague of Krommidas at the Nassau County Board of Elections, urges residents to honor Krommidas by voting for him, suggesting that it may lead to a special election.
Judge Gary Knobel's ruling specifies that missing person status does not constitute a vacancy that can be filled, reflecting the legal complexities surrounding Krommidas' disappearance.
Historically, deceased candidates have won elections, as seen in cases like U.S. Rep. Nicholas Begich Sr., who won reelection in Alaska after disappearing in a plane crash and later being declared dead.
Democratic supporters accuse their Republican counterparts of exploiting the situation for political advantage. Hodge expresses the need for compassion, stating, Petros is someone’s son, brother, friend. Meanwhile, Krommidas’ family has expressed their desire for the community to vote in his honor, as they continue to navigate their grief.
In the weeks following Krommidas’ disappearance, his loved ones scoured the beaches for any signs of him, putting up flyers that still remain tattered around the area. As the political tension rises, community reaction remains mixed, with some expressing disbelief at Krommidas still being on the ballot, while others recognize the somber nature of the choice.
