The race for Elmont School Board was a highly contentious one with six candidates vying for three seats. Now, more than a month after the election, one of the candidates is petitioning the commissioner of the state education department to take action since she feels the election was unfair.

This past May, incumbent Robert Nori, challenger Pam Montaverde and challenger Elsy Guibert ran against challenger Patrick Nicolosi, incumbent Carl Termini and incumbent Lorraine Ferrigno. Nori, Montaverde and Ferrigno emerged victorious. The closest of the races was the one between Guibert and Ferrigno, which was decided by one vote.

Elmont School District attorney Colum Nugent has confirmed that Guibert is challenging the election, claiming voter irregularities.

Candidates have a month until after the election to file a petition with the commissioner of the state education department, who has the only authority to take action now that the election is complete.

Guibert believes that there are instances where voters were not domiciled in Elmont. "This is totally wrong," she said prior to officially petitioning the commissioner of education. "To look into it and to consider that will be something that I will certainly applaud."

As the attorney for the Elmont School District, Nugent said he will respond by saying "the election was conducted in accordance with the law and regulations."

According to Nugent, the commissioner, on average, takes a year to decide on these types of cases. Nugent said the standard the commissioner of education would use in making a decision with respect to voter irregularities is pervasive fraud and it would be hard for the challenger to meet that standard. "There isn't a pattern of pervasive fraud at this election," he said.