Political thriller surrounds missing Greek-American candidate Petros Krommidas on Long Island

Even aft vanishing 5 months ago, Petros Krommidas remains a campaigner for a spot connected the Nassau County Legislature connected Long Island, New York.

The 29-year-old’s sanction will stay connected the ballot pursuing a tribunal ruling that sided with Republican voters, who argued that it would beryllium preferable to look a missing opponent, perchance deceased, alternatively than a replacement candidate.

Krommidas went missing past May aft going for a nighttime swim successful the Atlantic Ocean and ne'er returning. His phone, keys, apparel and αυτοκίνητο were aboriginal recovered connected Long Beach. An experienced rower and triathlete successful training, helium was nary stranger to the ocean.

When the Democratic Party attempted to regenerate him, Republicans took the substance to court, successfully arguing that since Krommidas is officially classified arsenic missing, not deceased, his sanction could not beryllium removed from the ballot.

Under New York State law, a idiosyncratic cannot beryllium legally declared dormant until three years aft disappearing, a clause the Republicans invoked.

In his ruling, the justice cited a precedent from decades earlier successful Alaska, noting that a “missing person” status does not automatically make a vacancy that tin beryllium filled.

As a result, voters connected predetermination time will person two choices: to support the incumbent Republican candidate, oregon to vote for the missing Democrat who vanished into the ocean.

Local Democrats assertion the suit was a strategic manoeuvre aimed astatine securing an casual Republican victory and extending their bulk successful the region legislature. They besides reason the lawsuit has prolonged the suffering of Krommidas’ family.

Speaking to the Associated Press, Democratic Party subordinate James Hodge urged voters to support Krommidas’ candidacy, saying that if helium wins, a special predetermination would then beryllium held — 1 successful which Hodge hopes to tally arsenic the Democratic nominee.