A candidate for local office in New York disappeared months ago. He could still win

"A political candidate in the New York City suburbs went for a night swim in the Atlantic Ocean this past spring and never returned. Petros Krommidas's phone, keys and clothes were found on the sands at Long Beach on Long Island. The 29-year-old former Ivy League rower, who was training for a triathlon, had parked his car just off the picturesque wooden boardwalk. As the months passed, local Democrats attempted to field a replacement to run for the seat in the Nassau County legislature."

"James Hodge is among those calling on residents to cast their ballots for Krommidas regardless hoping to trigger a special election in which Democrats can put forward another candidate to run against Republican lawmaker Patrick Mullaney. The Long Beach resident worked with Krommidas at the Nassau county board of elections and had been tapped by Democrats to run in his place. We need to stand by and honor his name and memory, Hodge told the Associated Press. Let's give him that victory."

"The Republican voters argued in their lawsuit that Democrats couldn't claim Krommidas was dead because authorities still considered him a missing person. They pointed to a New York state law that someone is presumed dead after being absent for a continuous period of three years. A county judge, Gary Knobel, agreed, writing in his ruling last month that missing person' status does not qualify as a vacancy that can be filled."

Petros Krommidas, a 29-year-old former Ivy League rower training for a triathlon, vanished after a night swim in the Atlantic; his phone, keys and clothes were found on Long Beach sands and his car was parked near the boardwalk. Local Democrats sought to replace him on the Nassau County legislature ballot, but two Republican voters sued and a judge ruled Krommidas remains a missing person, not legally deceased, so his name must stay on the November ballot. Supporters urged residents to vote for him to trigger a special election allowing Democrats to nominate a new candidate.

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