(The Oyster Bay Enterprise Pilot went to press on Monday, June 19. The election results will be in the June 29 issue of this newspaper.)

Election signs were visible along Route 106 alerting Muttontown residents about who was running for election on Tuesday, June 20 vote. On the corner of Muttontown Road and Route 106 was one sign for Mayoral Candidate Richard Entel of the Citizens Association and three signs - one for Mayoral Candidate Julianne Beckerman of the Concerned Taxpayers; one for Pat Miller for the Concerned Taxpayers and one for Carl Juul-Nielsen of the Common Sense party (the three are cross-endorsing each other). It appeared that a fifth sign on the corner was being blocked by one of the signs.

It was just business as usual in this contested election in a village with an over 70 year history of uncontested elections. (Past mayor Byam Stevens served for 25 years.)

Ms. Beckerman said her signs had been removed on a regular basis from the lawns of her supporters. Mr. Entel chose not to make any comments to this newspaper on the issue of election signs.

Another issue of contention in this precedent setting election was the ballot order. Village Clerk Van Wagner said, "Over the years there was never more than one ticket on the ballot. I thought putting the names on the ballot in the order they were received would be a neutral method." That meant the Concerned Taxpayer names would run first, followed by Mr. Juul-Nielson of the Common Sense ticket; Mr. Entel and the Citizens Association and Mr. Sharma of The Village Party.

Ms. Van Wagner sent a fax to Village Attorney Peter MacKinnon on May 31 saying, "The order of 'appearance' on the ballot was premised on the order that the petitions were filed in the clerk's office."

The explanation didn't satisfy candidate Entel and he complained saying his party - previously the only party - has an entitlement to the top of the ballot.

Ms. Beckerman said when Village Attorney MacKinnon later suggested a lottery as being the fairest method for all parties, according to her attorney - it was too late for any changes. Ms. Beckerman said, "It left Vivien with no way to change the ballot." It had been already sent to the Nassau County Board of Elections.

It was not too late to remove the village clerk from the center of the controversy. On June 13 Mr. Entel sent a letter to Muttontown Mayor Richard Murcott alleging that the village clerk, Vivien Van Wagner had "shown an extreme preference for the candidacy of candidates Julianne Beckerman, Pat Miller and Carl Juul-Nielson." He asked "that she should not be permitted access to Village Hall until the election is over." On June 14, Mayor Murcott sent Ms. Van Wagner a letter at Village Hall saying, "I have just received the attached letter [previously quoted from] from Rich Entel, candidate for mayor in next week's election. Even though the letter contains allegations that are not substantiated, I feel that they are serious enough that, in fairness to all candidates, I immediately temporarily suspend you with pay as Village Clerk until Tuesday, June 27th. During this time, please stay out of Village Hall."

Earlier in the campaign, (on May 19) Ms. Beckerman received a letter asking her not to work in the Village Hall until June 20 - election day - but rather at the office of Peter MacKinnon, village attorney. Ms. Beckerman is on the Planning Board and the Tax Grievance Committee and in that capacity she would have been reviewing the material for the July meeting, she said.

Ms. Beckerman said candidate Kevin Spillane, chairman of the Architectural Review Board, was not told he couldn't use the village hall office and continued to do so. The official explanation was that Ms. Beckerman's job was finished for the time being and that Mr. Spillane's was not.

There was another glitch in the ballot process reported. Mr. Entel said, "Ms. Wagner had put a check mark on my opponent's line when she sent the ballot to the Nassau County Board of Elections. It was an illegal symbol. You cannot use an 'x' or a 'check' mark on the ballot. Village Attorney Peter MacKinnon spoke to my opponents and they rescinded and now a horseshoe is their symbol."

Mr. Entel said his party, the Citizens Association, is on line "C" of the ballot. When asked if he thought the ballot order was important he said, "We'll find out tomorrow [June 20]."

The election closes at 9 p.m. so the ballots will be counted at 9:05 and we'll see then," said Mr. Entel.

In the meantime, Ms. Beckerman's attorney was in court on Monday, "trying to get the courts to come in to ensure it is a fair election and that they are not involved in anything they shouldn't be involved in," she said.