South Orangetown board votes to hold special election Dec. 16 to fill vacant seat
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Summary
The Board of Education voted to call a special district meeting and special election for Dec. 16, 2025, to fill the seat vacated by John Savage; nominating petitions will be available Oct. 22 and must be filed by Nov. 17 with 45 signatures required.
The South Orangetown Central School District board voted to call a special district meeting and special election for Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025, to fill the board seat vacated by John Savage, whose resignation was effective Sept. 25, 2025.
The district clerk read a resolution that set the election date and provided candidate filing information: nominating petitions will be available beginning Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025; the number of signatures required on a candidate's petition is 45 (2% of the 2025 voting population as stated in the read motion); and petitions must be submitted to the district clerk by 5 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 17, 2025. The clerk also provided a district phone number for further information.
Board members discussed whether to appoint a replacement or hold a special election. Several members expressed concern about the cost of a special election and about access to voting machines; the board discussed the possibility of using paper ballots as a lower‑cost alternative. After discussion, a motion to call the special meeting was moved and seconded and carried by voice vote; board members present answered "aye." The motion directed the district clerk to give legal notice of the special election and to make nominating petitions available beginning Oct. 22.
At the meeting members asked procedural questions about petition requirements and the ability to obtain voting machines; district staff said the availability of machines is uncertain and that paper ballots would be an available alternative if necessary. The read resolution specified the term of office for the winner would be effective Dec. 16, 2025, through June 30, 2028.
The board also approved an addendum to the personnel appointments read earlier in the meeting (provisional appointment for Anne Quigley as confidential secretary to the superintendent and a prorated stipend as district clerk starting Oct. 22, 2025) and approved an amended consent agenda in a separate voice vote earlier in the meeting.