Seeking federal monitor in Nassau election

A Nassau civil rights lawyer Wednesday called for federal monitoring of the election in the Third Legislative District after a campaign volunteer for Republican incumbent John Ciotti made racial remarks outside the offices of the Democratic candidate.

Frederick Brewington said at a news conference that he has asked the U.S. attorney's office to observe the campaign between Ciotti and Democratic challenger Carrié Solages, whose parents were Haitian immigrants.

Brewington made the request after video surfaced of a confrontation outside Solages' Elmont law office between Ciotti volunteer Vincent Prisco and Solages' sister.

Robert Nardoza, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office in Brooklyn, declined to comment on Brewington's request.

Prisco, 38, of Valley Stream, was recorded 12 days ago as he and an unidentified man put up Ciotti campaign signs on a fence next to Solages' office, which also serves as the candidate's campaign headquarters. Michaelle Solages, a campaign volunteer, challenged Prisco's authority to post the signs and recorded the exchange.

After the confrontation, Prisco, who is white, is seen in the video saying to the other man, "Don't worry, we're gonna put them on the back of the bus where they belong."

Prisco could not be reached Wednesday.

Ciotti has condemned Prisco's behavior and barred him from the campaign. In an appearance outside Brewington's office Wednesday, Ciotti called on Prisco's employer, Sanitary District No. 6 in West Hempstead, to fire him. District officials could not be reached for comment.

Ciotti, the legislature's deputy presiding officer, noted that he is co-chairman of Nassau's anti-bias task force. "I want to make it clear that I will not accept such behavior, especially in my campaign," he said.

Brewington said Ciotti should be calling for Prisco's arrest. But Ciotti noted that District Attorney Kathleen Rice is investigating Prisco's actions. "Let that process work, wherever it leads," Ciotti said.

Federal election monitors help preserve enforcement provisions of the Voting Rights Act, according to the U.S. Justice Department's website.