Burton Offered County Democratic Elections Commissioner Job

Terry Burton, who has been offered the position of Schoharie County Democratic Elections Commissioner, speaks during the March 20 county Board of Supervisors meeting. Photo by Chris English.

SCHOHARIE COUNTY — The Schoharie County Board of Supervisors appear to have filled the long-vacant position of Democratic Elections Commissioner, though it's not actually 100 percent accomplished yet.

At its Friday, March 20 meeting, the BOS approved a motion recommended by county Attorney Mike West to make a "non-revocable offer" of the job to Town of Schoharie resident and Middleburgh Central School teacher Terry Burton with the proviso that he let the board know whether he's accepting the position no later than July 31. In the meantime, the Board of Supervisors cannot revoke the offer, according to the motion that was passed.

Burton teaches fifth-grade math and science at MCS and is set to retire June 30 after 32 years of teaching. He couldn't be simply appointed to the elections commissioner position now because of certain rules that don't allow a public school teacher to hold another public sector job at the same time. 

The offer of the job to Burton comes after the county BOS voted down several other recommendations made by the Schoharie County Democratic Committee over the last several months. Burton attended the March 20 meeting to briefly speak and thank the Supervisors for offering him the position.

The job normally has a term of four years, but Burton said in this particular case since it's a vacancy there would only be between two and three years left on the term once he starts, provided he ends up accepting the position.

In other actions from the March 20 meeting, the BOS approved a superseding resolution appointing members to the county Traffic Safety Board/Stop DWI Board. Appointed were Karl Remmers (term expiring June 30, 2029); Christopher Luhr (June 30, 2029); Schoharie County Sheriff Albro Fancher (June 30, 2029); John Conboy (June 30, 2028); Rebecca Schroeder (June 30, 2028); Lawrence Caza (June 30, 2028); William Henn (June 30, 2027) and Jennifer Field (June 30, 2027).

Also approved was a resolution authorizing the county clerk to withhold necessary expenses incurred in 2026 for the collection and administration of the Mortgage Recording Tax pursuant to New York State Tax Law.

Appointed to the Alternatives to Incarceration Panel were BOS Chairman Bill Federice; County Judge Ryan McAllister; Fancher; Director of Community Services Sarah Nies; District Attorney Christopher Luhr; Probation Director Richard Cain; Cobleskill Town Justice Dawn Fiorillo; Clinton Avent (County Court); Lee Hartjen (defense attorney); John Jarvis (Pastoral Care Manager); Suzanne Graulich (administrator assigned counsel plan); John Leavitt (county Supervisor and Law Enforcement Committee Chairman); William Henn (SUNY Cobleskill Police Chief) and Cody Robinson-Bullock (county Youth Bureau Director).

A resolution was passed amending the snow and ice agreement between Schoharie County Public Works and the New York State Department of Transportation that adds $63,570 in funding for the county because of the severity of the 2024-2025 winter.