Archive: Opinions

The Tompkins County Board of Elections has had several inquiries regarding the sudden turn of events regarding the  position of Tompkins County District Attorney.  We are writing this to clarify what has happened and what the procedure will be going forward.

On July 8th, Gwen Wilkinson resigned as the District Attorney for Tompkins County.   This created a vacancy in the office.  On November 8, 2016, when voters in Tompkins County vote for President of the United States and other offices, the position of Tompkins County District Attorney, will also be on the ballot.  The person that is elected will serve a full four year term beginning on January 1, 2017.

Normally, candidates for this office are designated by the political parties through the petition process, which this year concluded on July 14th.  Because the vacancy occurred too late in the petition process, the political parties will not be able to designate candidates by petition.  Fortunately, New York State Election Law provides solutions any time such situations arise.

Section 6-116 of Election Law applies in this situation and says that a party nomination of a candidate for election to fill a vacancy in an elective office required to be filled at the next general election shall be made, after the day of the primary election, by a majority vote of a quorum of the members of a county committee or committees last elected in the political subdivision in which such vacancy is to be filled, or by a majority of such other committee as the rules of the party may provide. A certificate of nomination shall be filed as provided for herein.

To put the previous paragraph in lay terms, the members of the Democratic and Republican county committees must meet after September 13th and with a quorum present and by a majority vote of those present select a candidate to run on their respective party lines.  The Conservative, Green, Working Families, Independence, Women's Equality and Reform Party can select a candidate by a majority vote of such other committees as their rules provide.   All of the political parties that nominate a candidate for District Attorney must then file a Certificate of Nomination at the Tompkins County Board of Elections, no later than 5 PM on September 20, 2016.  The Tompkins County Board of Elections notified all eight parties of the vacancy and the process for filling the vacancy and nominating candidates in a letter which we mailed on July 8, 2016.

Any person interested in seeking this position or seeking to have input in a particular party's selection process should contact that party.  Party contacts can be accessed on the Tompkins County Board of Elections website (www.votetompkins.com) or by using the following link: http://www.tompkinscountyny.gov/boe/For_Candidates/Political_Party_Contacts/Index_Political_Party_Contacts

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us at 607-274-5522.

Stephen M. DeWitt and Elizabeth W. Cree Commissioners of Elections

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