The Search Continues

At the end of last year, the Columbia County Democratic Committee issued a request for applications for the position of Democratic Election Commissioner, a post held by Virginia Martin for more than a decade. On November 25, when the CCDC voted to determine which candidate they would recommend for appointment to the Board of Supervisors, there were four candidates, but the real contest was between two: Virginia Martin and Erin Stamper. 

Photo sources: Martin (left), Rural Intelligence; Stamper (right), Twitter

On the first ballot, neither candidate received a majority of the votes, but on the second ballot, Martin got just over 50 percent of the vote and was recommended for appointment to the Board of Supervisors. On December 11, the recommendation of the CCDC was rejected by the Board of Supervisors, with twenty supervisors voting against reappointing Martin and only three voting for it.  

Now the CCDC is again calling for applications for the position. Below is the appeal that went out this morning by email.

The Columbia County Democratic Committee seeks applications from interested persons for the position of Democratic Election Commissioner for the term starting mid-February, 2020 and ending December 31, 2021, with the opportunity for reappointment for a further two years in 2021.

The Columbia County Board of Elections is responsible for all aspects of elections of the towns and city in Columbia County, and also assists some villages and school districts with their elections. There are two Election Commissioners, one Democrat and one Republican. Three full-time staff report to each of the Commissioners. The position is full time

Salary is $65,000 per annum, plus benefits.

Applications should be emailed to both of:

Keith Kanaga  keithkanaga@gmail.com

Lee Jamison  ber02244@fairpoint.net

There have been some changes since the last go-round. The position is now a full-time position, whereas in the past it has been considered part-time, with a salary reflecting that status. Also, James Dolan, one of the three staff members who report to the Democratic Election Commissioner, who was hired by Martin in March 2016 and left the BOE this past fall, has filed a notice of claim against Columbia County, Virginia Martin, and Deputy Commissioner Diane Boice-Yorck, alleging that he "was unlawfully terminated or resigned under duress" and this outcome was "in retaliation . . . for exercising his right of freedom of speech and association with the workplace."

The drama continues.
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