Murray calls for Bonilla resignation

Richard Tedesco

Town of Hempstead Supervisor Kate Murray and members of the town board called for Town Clerk Mark Bonilla to resign his position last week in the wake of criminal misconduct charges and sexual harassment allegations made against Bonilla.

Bonilla, 50, of Bellmore, was arrested by detectives from Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice’s office last Friday afternoon and charged with three misdemeanors, including official misconduct, second-degree attempted coercion and petit larceny, according to a criminal complaint.

“The alleged conduct of the town clerk is disgusting and offensive,” Murray said during a press conference with the other town board members present last Saturday. “Officials have a responsibility to uphold the public’s trust, and I am calling upon him to immediately resign his position.”

The complaint against Bonilla, filed by Det. Investigator William Walsh, said that on Aug. 19 Bonilla attempted to force a member of his staff, Alex Desidoro, to provide Bonilla with compromising photos of a female employee who had filed a sexual harassment charge against Bonilla. Desidoro possessed the photos because he had an intimate relationship with Bonilla’s accuser, the complaint said.

In a statement, Murray and the other board members concurred that the “credible allegation of sexual harassment” warranted the clerk’s resignation.

“Protecting staff from a hostile work environment is a responsibility I take seriously,” Murray said. “I will ensure that employees in the clerk’s office have a work environment that is safe and free from intimidation and inappropriate behavior.”

She said town officials are working closely with the county district attorney’s office on the Bonilla case and thanked Rice and her staff for their efforts.

The investigation reportedly began with complaints to town officials about Bonilla’s conduct.

According to the complaint, Bonilla told Desidoro that his failure to comply with Bonilla’s request for the photos would raise questions about his loyalty and lead to his transfer from the town clerk’s office. If Desidoro complied, Bonilla allegedly promised him a full-time job in the office.

Bonilla’s attorney, Adrian DiLuzio, said Bonilla will not resign his position.

“It really is very simple. He’s been accused of something,” DiLuzio said. “It’s just an accusation at this point.”

On Monday, Town of Hempstead spokesman Mike Deery said town officials are “researching the options under the law” to “essentially remove the clerk.”

Bonilla was appointed town clerk by the town board in 2003 after Murray left the post to become town supervisor. 

He was elected to the position later that year and won his fifth term in 2011 to the job that pays him $129,500 per year.

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