Despite state decision, Wyandanch library trustee presses case to overturn election results

A longtime Wyandanch library trustee who was defeated in April at the polls is requesting the results be overturned and a new election held, but part of her appeal to the state has already been denied.

Nancy Holliday, who has been a trustee for more than 20 years, lost to challenger Kisha Carter by a tally of 112-105, according to the chief poll inspector report. Carter said Holliday congratulated her on her victory after polls closed on April 5.

The state Department of Education received an appeal on May 9 from Holliday asking officials to “immediately overturn the results” due to “irregularities and voter fraud.” Among the allegations Holliday makes are that: Carter, 51, does not live in the district; three people voted both by absentee ballot and in person; people were turned away from voting; and people voted who do not live in the district.

“I don’t know where Nancy is getting all of that stuff from,” Carter said last week. “I just think that she made these things up.”

Holliday, 68, declined to comment.

Holliday also requested a stay of her seat, which she holds until July 1. The state has denied that request to keep her seat until a decision is made on the appeal, according to department officials.

In her appeal, Holliday offered a copy of election clerk Andrew Caynon’s election report, an affidavit from a woman saying Carter doesn’t live in the district and a list of 10 people she claims voted but do not reside in the district, including someone who appears to be Carter’s father, who died in 2014.

The affidavit is from Bessie Bizzle, who states that she has “knowledge” that Carter does not live in Wyandanch. Reached by a Newsday reporter, Bizzle said that information is based off a conversation she had with Carter more than 20 years ago in which Carter said she lived in West Babylon. Asked how Bizzle knew Carter had not since moved to Wyandanch, she said she never sees her so it was “just an assumption, it’s not a fact . . . she could live in Wyandanch, I don’t know.”

Carter said she has never lived in West Babylon and has been in Wyandanch for 13 years.

In its response to the appeal, the library denied any irregularities or voter fraud occurred or that trustees have any information that Carter doesn’t live in Wyandanch. An affidavit from Caynon states that 12 people did not have their names in the register but that he confirmed with the county board of elections that they were registered to vote.

“None of these persons were challenged by anyone at any time either before or during the election,” Caynon stated.

Carter said she plans to take her five-year seat on the board on July 1.

“I’m going to do what I told the community I would do, which is try to help the library get back to where it used to be,” she said.

By Denise M. Bonilla

denise.bonilla@newsday.comdenisebonilla

Denise Bonilla has worked at Newsday since 2003 and covers the Town of Babylon, including the villages of Lindenhurst and Amityville.