Rockland County Politics Get Injection of the Insane As Two Criminals Fight Over Eligibility

by Monsey.info

It’s an odd choice for Mayor. Would you like someone convicted in a federal corruption scandal or perhaps someone convicted for stealing money from government programs?

It’s not just a theoretical question, it’s actual Spring Valley politics.

Noramie Jasmin, a Democrat elected Spring Valley official for many years and mayor from 2008 to 2013, is planning on running again, despite having served four years in prison for corruption, according to the New York Post.

Jasmin had been convicted in 2015 in a federal corruption scandal stemming from former state Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith. The conviction, for mail fraud and extortion, was over her attempts to get $5,000 cash and 50-percent ownership in a local community center.

But that’s not all.

One of her opponents attempting to run for the same office is Vilair Fonvil, a former Spring Valley Trustee convicted of stealing money from a village owned summer camp.

Fonvil’s demise in came in 2018 when he was convicted for stealing $11,000, and charged with grand larceny, corruption and official misconduct.

The two criminals faced off in court, each attempting to force the other off the ballot with claims that the other is a convicted criminal, and therefore invalidated from running.

It appears unclear what they were thinking, but the surprising case ended with Fanvil barred from running over his conviction, despite him having appealed, and Jasmin given the green light, despite her four years in prison and corruption conviction.

The legal decision was handed down by State Supreme Court Justice Paul Marx, who noted that the reason for Jasmin’s ability to run stems from an apparent loophole in the law which some have already attempted to close.

At present, New York State law bars criminals convicted of state felonies from running for office, but technically does not bar federal convicts such as Jasmin to run.