Lawmakers OK Ban on Commissioners from Party Committees
The Putnam County Legislature passed a local law at Tuesday night’s monthly meeting that would prevent election commissioners from also serving as a chair or officer of a political party committee. The law passed 8-0 (Chairman Vincent Tamagna was absent), and assuming it is signed by County Executive Paul Eldridge will take effect on Jan. 1, 2012.
“It’s been out there forever that sometimes the commissioner of elections has held three hats. Sometimes it’s held two hats,” Legislator Tony Hay said. Under the new law, “It will only be allowed to have one hat.”
Eldridge said he supports the law, and a public hearing will be held sometime this month before it is signed.
Republican Election Commissioner Tony Scannapieco also serves as the chair of the Carmel Republican Committee and previously served as the county Republican chair, drawing criticism from some residents and officials who have called it a conflict of interest.
The law also staggers the four-year terms of the two commissioners, beginning in 2015.
Adam has worked in the local news industry for the past two decades in Westchester County and the broader Hudson Valley. Read more from Adam’s author bio here.