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Poughkeepsie Journal

May 23, 2006

Elections chiefs urge county act

More workers are needed, lawmakers told

By Anthony Farmer

Poughkeepsie Journal

Meeting new federal elections requirements in time for this year's elections leaves little room for change in a $750,000 plan to upgrade the county's voting system, Dutchess County's elections commissioners said Monday.

The commissioners — Republican David Gamache and Democrat Fran Knapp — outlined the details of their plan for the county Legislature. Legislators met as a committee of the whole to hear the presentation and ask questions.

County boards of elections have taken over full administration of elections in New York for the first time, under changes approved in the wake of problems with the 2000 presidential election in Florida. In the past, cities and towns were responsible for much of the Election Day oversight, including finding polling sites and finding and paying elections inspectors and machine custodians.

Gamache said the responsibilities of the local elections office have more than doubled, as a result.

"Our needs are real and this is why we're here today to say we are in a crisis," Gamache said. "There's no time to delay any longer."

The Legislature's Government Services & Administration Committee will take up the proposal in June.

Much of what the commissioners are proposing was included in the agency's budget proposal for 2006. But County Executive William Steinhaus and the county Legislature did not include any funding for costs related to the new elections responsibilities in finalizing the county's 2006 budget last fall.

Gamache and Knapp are requesting four new full-time employees at the board of elections, four other new employees who would work fulltime from August to November at the board and 50 election inspector coordinators. The 50 coordinators — 25 Republicans and 25 Democrats — would be paid $1,000 each to fulfill the role of supervising individual polling sites in the days leading up to, and on, Election Day.

Republican legislators questioned how the commissioners arrived at the proposed salaries not only for the 50 coordinators, but the full-time and seasonal employees. They also wanted to know why they hadn't received information on the job descriptions for each position.

"They're still missing elements to the plan," Legislature Chairman Brad Kendall, R-Dover, said following the meeting.

Minority Leader Roger Higgins, D-Town of Poughkeepsie, said Democrats feel the elections commissioners have presented a sound plan. The Republicans have had several months to raise questions and haven't, he said.

"They've had their head in the sand, frankly," Higgins said.

Another issue still unresolved is whether the county will charge towns and cities to help cover its new costs for paying elections inspectors. Republicans have broached the idea of instituting a charge; Democrats have opposed such plans.

Town of Poughkeepsie Supervisor Patricia Myers said it would be "egregious" for the county to even consider charging the towns.

"You cannot ask us to fund something we have no say in," Myers said.

Anthony Farmer can be reached at apfarmer@poughkeepsiejournal.com