UPDATED: Lawlor Mullins Responds to Kaplan Contesting Election Results

UPDATED with statement from Angela Lawlor Mullins on12/13:

Port Washington Police Commissioner candidate Steve Kaplan has contested the initial results from the police commissioner election held Tuesday.

Kaplan is contesting the 50+ absentee ballots that were set aside, claiming that most of these ballots were good.

He also has questions regarding approximately 10 affidavit ballots that were counted, including four for Angela Lawlor Mullins and one for Kaplan.

Kaplan says it’s still a “wide open race.”

In the Village Special Elections, it was reported that Kaplan lost to Lawlor Mullins by just 28 votes.

Patch contacted Lawlor Mullins, who sent the following statement regarding Kaplan contesting the election results. She said the Port Washington Police District has a “long history of voiding improperly filled absentee ballots.” Read her full response below:

“As in any election a candidate has the right to challenge the result of the vote. However, what they don’t have the right to do is change the rules and the process after the vote has been counted. The Port Washington Police District has a long history of voiding improperly filled absentee ballots. This has always been the practice and the rule as cited by the attorney’s representing the P.W.P.D. My opponent also attempted to get elected in two other commissioner positions and ultimately lost in all three elections. Challenging the status quo and ethical conflicts in the police district has not been an easy task. The antics of boys club politics and improper conduct amongst commissioners needs to stop. This is the very same reason why the American people call for police reform and continue to lose faith in the ability of their elected officials to serve them honestly.”

The original results were:

• Angela Lawlor Mullins: 310 votes
• Steven Kaplan: 282 votes
• Ronald Rochester: 155 votes

A preliminary meeting will be held Monday to review the envelopes, but Kaplan could not confirm when the official election results would be released.