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NEWSPAPER SPECIAL EDITION-THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2014
TOWN OF HUNTINGTON
Out Of Prison, On Democratic Committee Ballot By Danny Schrafel dschrafel@longislandergroup.com
Nathaniel Ham, the disgraced former head of the Huntington Housing Authority who was released from federal prison in May after being convicted of bribery and money laundering charges, is on the ballot this Tuesday to become a Huntington Town Democratic Committeeman. Ham, 62, and his wife, Denise, of Dix Hills, are to run in the Sept. 9 primary election against incumbent committee members Richard Wanat and Arlene Morante for a two-year term representing the 98th Election District. The race is one of six committee primaries that Huntington Democratic voters residing in those election districts can weigh in on this Tuesday. But Ham’s run is getting the most attention – and causing the most aggravation to Democratic leaders. Ham was one of two Dix Hills residents among 14 construction inspectors and a pair of contractors sentenced Nov. 22, 2011 for their role in a nineyear kickback scheme that inflated the cost of post-Sept. 11 projects with fake bills and unnecessary work, federal prosecutors said at the time. In connection with these proj-
ects, the 14 Con Ed inspectors solicited bribes in exchange for approving contractor invoices that listed phantom pay items, allowing contractors to perform unnecessary additional work on the projects and expediting Con Ed payments to the contractors. Prosecutors say the scheme cost Con Ed millions. Ham, who was convicted in March 2011, was found to have laundered bribes through his credit union accounts. He was released from federal prison on May 2 after receiving a 32month sentence, and was also ordered to pay more than $1.136 million in fines. Huntington Town Democratic Committee Chair Mary Collins said Tuesday there’s little the party could do to stop his bid. “It’s their right to carry petitions,” she said. “I don’t particularly agree with it… They went out and got signatures and filed with the board of elections.” So long as he’s a registered Democrat, Ham’s felony conviction does not preclude him from running for the town committee, county election officials said. “If a person convicted of a felony is no longer in prison and no longer on parole, there is no prohibition against being a registered voter in New York State,” said Anita Katz, the Democratic commissioner on the Suffolk
County Board of late 2000 for Elections. allegedly usHam’s name ing Housing did not produce Authority any results in a Mortgage state parole dataCorporation base search, and money to pay Katz confirmed property taxWednesday he is es and Ham’s a registered voter. son’s tuition. Dating back to In June 2001, 1987, Ham’s conHam repaid Nathaniel Ham struction company the Housing racked up tens of thousands of Authority more than $72,000, dollars in judgments for unpaid which was initially approved as bills, as well as sizable tax liens “a loan.” Ham was not prosefrom the government. Awash in cuted criminally as a result of debt and tax liens, Ham’s DGH the allegations. Construction Co. was dissolved Ham, who was named acting in June 1993. housing authority chairman by In January 1999, another the late David McKay after Ham construction business, McKay was indicted on conC.B.H. Construction Corp., was spiracy and money-laundering ordered to pay pension and charges in 1999, was later union dues, totaling $33,255, forced from the housing authorwhich had been withheld from ity’s board by the Huntington the Bricklayer’s Union. Town Board. Ham served one term on the Since then, the housing auHalf Hollow Hills school board thority has rebounded, and fedfrom 1997-2000. His later eral housing scores improved tenure on the housing authority dramatically during the tenure ended amid allegations of gross of Chairman William Spencer, financial malfeasance. In Octo- now a Suffolk County legislator ber 2000, then-housing authori- representing the 18th district. ty Chairman Malcolm Tillim alPrimary polls for the commitleged that a $170,000 “slush tee races, as well as for a confund” had been created using tested District Court race for the HUD money. The Housing Au- Conservative, Independence thority sued Ham and another and Working Families parties, Housing Authority commis- will be open from 6 a.m.-9 p.m. sioner, Charles Robinson, in on Tuesday, Sept. 9.
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