Still No Schoharie County Democratic Elections Commissioner

SCHOHARIE COUNTY — Filling the vacancy for Schoharie County Democratic Elections Commissioner has been a long and difficult process.

The latest chapter in the story came at the Friday, Feb. 20 county Board of Supervisors meeting when the BOS unanimously voted down Carl Kopecky, who has twice been recommended by the county Democratic Committee and twice rejected by the BOS. Other recommendations for the post have been voted down as well.

After the latest vote, county Attorney Mike West urged the county Democratic Committee and county Supervisors to work together on finding the right person for the job.

"There needs to be a conversation," West said. "There's a reason the individuals being nominated are not being selected by the board. It's not about personalities but about getting the right person. There needs to be a little more communication so we can resolve this issue."

West explained in a telephone conversation after the Feb. 20 meeting that the Democratic and Republican Elections Commissioners normally serve six-year terms. However, the current situation on the Democratic side is a vacancy and the term only has about another four and a half years remaining.

He added that Elections Commissioner is a part-time job that largely involves the Republican and Democratic Commissioners getting together to make decisions on challenges to nominating petitions of people running for office.

"The board is not doing this to irritate people," West said of the votes on Democratic nominees. "It's doing it to get the right person for the job, the right fit."

He said the county Board of Elections has a widespread reputation for efficiency and running well and nothing should be allowed to happen that lessens that reputation.

"Our BOE is one of our signature agencies," West said at the Feb. 20 meeting.

Board of Supervisors Chairman Bill Federice said at the meeting the BOS is not obligated to vote in favor of the county Democratic Committee's recommendation and that the BOS vote should not just be a rubber stamp.

Supervisor Philip R. Skowfoe Jr. said that if he voted for someone just for the sake of getting the vacancy filled he wouldn't be doing his best for his town (Fulton) or the county.