What's in a name? (A lot, apparently.)
A special election is scheduled on February 20, 2007, and Mr. Emanuele Innamorato is running for a City Council seat in Staten Island's 51st Council District.*
In a special application made to the Richmond County Supreme Court, Mr. Innamorato asked to change his first name so that it would appear on the ballot as "Manny." Although the New York City Board of Elections took no position with respect to the request, an objection was interposed by John S. Friscia, Chairman of the Richmond County Republican Committee. After a hearing, the Supreme Court ultimately concluded that Mr. Innamorato was "predominantly known" in the community as "Manny" and should be listed as such.
Citing to other cases where ballot related name-change requests were "routinely granted," the court could "perceive no reason" why Innamorato's request warranted denial. As the court observed:
Of paramount concern to this Court is access to the voting public in the 51st Council District who are entitled to vote for the candidate of their choice. Unlike cases where a clear intent to defraud the electorate is discerned, such factors are clearly not present in the instant case. Nor has it been developed that granting petitioner's application would inure to him a considerable advantage in the upcoming special election ....
While this was clearly the right end-result, we were wondering whether it was really necessary to expend taxpayers' dollars on an issue like this.
For a copy of the Supreme Court's decision in In re Innamorato, dated February 5, 2007, please click the following link: http://www.nyrealestatelawblog.com/blog%20~%20innamorato%20v%20friscia.pdf
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*The seat was vacated by Republican Andrew Lanza upon his election to the State Senate.