Pirate’s Booty founder Robert Ehrlich attempted a mutiny in a tiny Long Island village shortly before losing his campaign for mayor, local officials confirmed.
On March 10, officials say Ehrlich and three supporters stormed into Sea Cliff Village Hall in Nassau County, declared himself mayor and attempted to fire all village staff, citing an obscure state law regarding the dissolvement of local governments.
According to Ehrlich, the New York Government Reorganization and Citizen Empowerment Act allows citizens to completely replace the current government with another. However, the law requires support from 10% of registered voters to dissolve the government, according to the Long Island Herald.
When Ehrlich and his supporters were told their claims were invalid and were asked repeatedly to leave, officials said they became “increasingly confrontational.” A village administrator told NBC News on Thursday that Ehrlich continued to assert he had enough petition signatures to replace the government, while refusing to hand over the signatures to be verified.
“Ehrlich and his associates raised their voices, used profane language, made outlandish claims and engaged in direct harassment of Village personnel,” Sea Cliff said in a statement.
After an hour of hostility, police intervened and Ehrlich eventually left the building.
Following the chaotic altercation, the snack brand founder became a write-in candidate for Tuesday’s mayoral election. However, he decisively lost to incumbent Elena Villafane in a vote of 1,064-62, Sea Cliff officials confirmed Wednesday.
Ehrlich told NBC News the “rigged” results didn’t matter, claiming he’s already the mayor. He also dismissed the idea of running again in two years.
“No, I’m mayor now. Why do I have to wait two years?” he told the outlet. “I am mayor at this moment. I can write an executive order.”
Ehrlich has claimed that current officials have not done enough to deliver services in a timely manner and revive local business.
In response to his attempted takeover, Mayor Villafane told News 12 Long Island the while she “welcome[s] the dialogue,” she’s not sure that “doing it in this sort of unorthodox fashion” helps the residents of Sea Cliff.
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
