Cayuga County Democrats nominated Democratic Committee Chairperson Katie Lacey for the position of Democratic Board of Elections Commissioner Monday night. Dennis Sedor currently holds the position.
By law, the Board of Elections is required to have a commissioner from each majority party, Sedor said.
The commissioner is responsible for overseeing and running countywide elections and for ensuring smooth, seamless, fair and secure elections, he said.
“The committee had voted to have me pass the baton to Katie as chair, and I was happy to comply,” Sedor said. “That was the will of the committee ... I'm not seeking to divide the committee, we're a party.”
Sedor has held the position for four years.
In Cayuga County, the Democratic Committee submits a nomination to the county Legislature for approval and the Legislature votes on it. The term lasts four years, Sedor said. Usually, the Legislature accepts the recommendation made by the party. Lacey would start effective Jan. 1, 2009.
There is no law or legal opinion that says a person cannot hold both positions of Democratic Chairperson and Democratic Board of Elections Commissioner, Sedor said. However, there are some opinions that it could be a conflict of interest.
“There are times when it's difficult to wear both hats at the same time,” he said.
Still, Sedor said he believes Lacey will do a good job.
There are 108 people on the Democratic Committee and 100 of them voted on this year's nomination, Lacey said. She declined to provide specific details of the vote.
Sedor said that Lacey received a majority of the vote, at which point he agreed to support her and asked for those who voted for his nomination to support Lacey as well.
“The position is, just by its nature, a political decision, and I was pleased with the support from the local committee for me to have that position,” Lacey said. “It's important for the party that there be a close relationship between the organization and the Board of Elections. I'm looking forward to it.”
Out of the 62 counties in New York state, more than 20 have one or both of the commissioners as the county chair for their respective parties, Lacey said.
“It's kind of a natural fit,” she said.
Cherl Heary, the Cayuga County Republican Committee Chairperson, currently holds the Republican Board of Elections Commissioner position.
Lacey also believes that she will be able to devote more time to the position and to get more personally involved. Sedor, who is an attorney, is busy, she said, and there are a lot of changes coming.
“He brought legal expertise, I bring a different kind of emphasis,” Lacey said, “It's not a reflection on what he did in the position, it's more of a choice on the part of the party to have someone with more time available.”
Staff writer Gitana Mirochnik can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or gitana.mirochnik@lee.net
The commissioner is responsible for overseeing and running countywide elections and for ensuring smooth, seamless, fair and secure elections, he said.
“The committee had voted to have me pass the baton to Katie as chair, and I was happy to comply,” Sedor said. “That was the will of the committee ... I'm not seeking to divide the committee, we're a party.”
Sedor has held the position for four years.
In Cayuga County, the Democratic Committee submits a nomination to the county Legislature for approval and the Legislature votes on it. The term lasts four years, Sedor said. Usually, the Legislature accepts the recommendation made by the party. Lacey would start effective Jan. 1, 2009.
There is no law or legal opinion that says a person cannot hold both positions of Democratic Chairperson and Democratic Board of Elections Commissioner, Sedor said. However, there are some opinions that it could be a conflict of interest.
“There are times when it's difficult to wear both hats at the same time,” he said.
Still, Sedor said he believes Lacey will do a good job.
There are 108 people on the Democratic Committee and 100 of them voted on this year's nomination, Lacey said. She declined to provide specific details of the vote.
Sedor said that Lacey received a majority of the vote, at which point he agreed to support her and asked for those who voted for his nomination to support Lacey as well.
“The position is, just by its nature, a political decision, and I was pleased with the support from the local committee for me to have that position,” Lacey said. “It's important for the party that there be a close relationship between the organization and the Board of Elections. I'm looking forward to it.”
Out of the 62 counties in New York state, more than 20 have one or both of the commissioners as the county chair for their respective parties, Lacey said.
“It's kind of a natural fit,” she said.
Cherl Heary, the Cayuga County Republican Committee Chairperson, currently holds the Republican Board of Elections Commissioner position.
Lacey also believes that she will be able to devote more time to the position and to get more personally involved. Sedor, who is an attorney, is busy, she said, and there are a lot of changes coming.
“He brought legal expertise, I bring a different kind of emphasis,” Lacey said, “It's not a reflection on what he did in the position, it's more of a choice on the part of the party to have someone with more time available.”
Staff writer Gitana Mirochnik can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 237 or gitana.mirochnik@lee.net
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