On Thursday, three Smithtown Councilmen will decide the fate of Patrick Vecchio and Lynne Nowick. Appoint or not appoint is what they will be asked to vote on. A unanimous “yes” will return Patrick Vecchio and Lynne Nowick to their respective offices of supervisor and councilwoman. A yes vote by the three men and the saga of what some are calling “Oathgate” comes to a halt. It doesn’t end the saga but it does provide some breathing room.
Vecchio and Nowick failed to sign and file their oath of office which resulted in the Town Clerk’s declaration that the two offices were vacant. The delay in reporting the absence of the oaths left no options for the board. The law is clear, failure to file an oath is fatal and the positions are vacated. The remaining three members of the board McCarthy, Wehrheim and Creighton must vote unanimously for the appointments or Vecchio and Nowick are out. Councilmembers do have the option of appointing other people to fill the seats but that seems highly unlikely.
Deputy Supervisor Tom McCarthy will offer resolutions to appoint Vecchio and Nowick at a special board meeting on Thursday evening. According to McCarthy he anticipates a unanimous yes vote. On Monday McCarthy spoke of conversations with Councilman Creighton. McCarthy stressed the professionalism and determination of Creighton to do the right thing and respect the voters will.
Regardless of the appointments there will be a special election in November. Both Vecchio and Nowick will be required to run for re-election.
Smithtown’s Democratic Chairman Ed Maher has come out in support of upholding the results of the November 2013 election as did the former Democratic candidate Steve Snair. Ed Maher’s statement