The Village of Bayville has found itself at the center of an unusual dilemma: a mayoral election without any official candidates listed on the ballot.
On Tuesday, June 9, hundreds of residents filled a private room with a sprawling view of Long Island Sound at Bayville’s Crescent Beach Club, where the village’s write-in candidates for mayor gathered to make their case.
Kevin Casey, Emily Harrison, Morris Ware Jr., Brian Tedaldi, John Taylor and Rena Bologna were the residents campaigning as write-in candidates for mayor.
Only moments after the meeting had begun Tuesday night, John Taylor withdrew his write-in bid for mayor and endorsed incumbent Mayor Steve Minicozzi, adding another twist to an already unusual election cycle. Minicozzi announced earlier this year that he would not be seeking re-election.
Taylor previously challenged Minicozzi in the 2022 mayoral election, which Minicozzi won by a vote of 1,086 to 441.
Taylor made the announcement moments after the Bayville Chamber of Commerce’s Meet the Candidates forum began, citing a family emergency involving his wife.
“I’ve been very proud to work for Bayville, and I’d love to do it from the mayor’s office, but I love my wife more, and she needs me,” Taylor told the audience.
By the end of the night, Minicozzi — who earlier on Tuesday had toldLong Island Presshe would not seek reelection — publicly said he would accept another term if residents wrote in his name.
“If I am written in, yes, I will accept for a short period of time in order to give the village a chance to hold a special election so that candidates can file petitions and campaign properly,” Minicozzi said.
Anyone can be written in as a candidate voted for on the ballot, including Minicozzi and the five remaining write-in candidates vying for victory, when voters go to the polls on June 16.
Source: LI Press
