The city Board of Elections’ top lawyer, Hemalee Patel, has taken a “leave” and is running to be a civil court judge in Brooklyn — but objections were filed to disqualify her from the ballot, The Post has learned.
Patel, a Democrat, who makes about $200,000 a year, will remain on payroll and collect a check while using her “vacation” or “annual leave” time, a BOE rep said.
In an interesting twist, objections were filed to Patel’s petitions of voter signatures — putting election officials, including potentially her subordinates in the counsel’s office, in the position of having to recommend to the board whether she qualifies to get on the ballot for Brooklyn Civil Court judge in the 5th District.
Her counsel’s office published “Designating Petition & Opportunity to Ballot Petition Guidelines for Primary Elections” on January 30.
“Will the Board of Elections be as punctilious in reviewing her petitions as they are with other candidates? I don’t see why not,” said election lawyer Lawrence Mandelker.
“You want equal justice for all,” he said.
Patel previously ran for judge in 2017, seeking to become Brooklyn’s first judge of South Asian descent at the time.
She was tapped to be the BOE’s top lawyer after then longtime-counsel Steve Richman was forced out following allegations that he harassed an intern and a subordinate.
Richman pleaded guilty in New York County Criminal Court to two counts of Official Misconduct, class-A misdemeanors.
He received an unconditional discharge as part of a plea agreement with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office.
Patel could face a stiff challenge in the general election, if she survives objections to her petitions and a potential Democratic primary challenge.
Ben Lieberman, an orthodox Jewish lawyer from Borough Park, is seeking the Republican nomination for the seat.
The Post reached out to Patel for comment.
Lieberman said, “I will not be commenting about my opponent.”
According to her LinkedIn page, Patel previously worked as a special referee in Staten Island state Supreme Court and as a law clerk in the court system.
Lieberman, 47, a lifelong Brooklynite and private practicing attorney, previously worked as a prosecutor in the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office and the Essex County prosecutor’s office in New Jersey.