Sea Cliff mayor faces write-in campaign today from Pirate's Booty founder who tried to take over village hall last week

The uncontested race comes a week after Robert Ehrlich claimed he was the village's new mayor and attempted to take control of Sea Cliff last Monday.

Jonathan Gordon

Mar 18, 2025, 9:37 AM

Updated 2 hr ago

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What would normally be a quiet day at the polls for a small village election is getting intense focus one week after Sea Cliff resident and founder of the snack company Pirate's Booty, Robert Ehrlich, attempted to take over village hall.
Today, he is pushing forward with a write-in campaign for Sea Cliff mayor as the current mayor, Elena Villafane, seeks to defend her seat in what is an unopposed race on paper.
According to village officials, Ehrlich and three other men went to the village hall on Monday, March 10 around 9:45 a.m.
Ehrlich is accused of asserting his authority as mayor, demanded access to office space and declared the entire village staff was fired effective immediately.
Nassau County police responded to the incident before the men left village hall without any arrests, according to law enforcement officials.
Last week, Ehrlich declined News 12's request for an interview but on social media claimed he used a little-known state law called The Citizen Empowerment Act to form a new village by collecting enough signatures.
He said he is the mayor of the Incorporated Village of Sea Cliff Residents.
If Ehrlich wants to hold the office, he'll have to win it the old-fashioned way, getting the most votes today.
In addition to Villafane, James Versocki and Mark Sobel are running unopposed to retain their trustee seats.
Polls open from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Sea Cliff Department of Public Works building at 66 Altamont Ave.