Molinaro signs bill creating new independent redistribution committee, addresses critics

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POUGHKEEPSIE – Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro signed legislation approved by the legislature on July 29, creating a new Independent Redistribution Committee (IRC) to draw new legislative districts based on U.S. Census data of 2020. The original IRC was dissolved in June after learning that one of the members was appointed in violation of the rules governing the IRC.

The Democratic Caucus of Lawmakers had appointed former lawmaker Richard Keller-Coffey to sit on the original IRC. IRC rules prohibit elected officials from sitting on the committee. In June, county officials learned that Keller-Coffey was an elected member of the Webutuck School District School Board. Speaker of the Legislature Gregg Pulver, on the advice of the county attorney’s office, immediately disbanded the committee citing potential impropriety and lack of transparency.

Democratic lawmakers have screamed scandal with arguments that the spirit of the law for the IRC did not include elected school district officials. Pulver remained steadfast and drafted new legislation creating a new IRC. He adopted party lines with all 15 Republicans supporting him and 10 Democrats opposing him.

In a note to Pulver and lawmakers sent by Molinaro on July 30, he explained his support for the new IRC. The county leader noted that the IRC was formed by four nominations, two from each party in the legislature. These four then selected three candidates, creating a committee of seven people. Keller-Coffey was one of the four initial nominations.

The memo said in part: “You can understand the need for the original four members to be free from disqualifying influences (free from the influence of the employer, supporters and the public) and the process by. several steps established to ensure the independence of the Commission and the credibility of their work and their product.

Molinaro further justified his support for the new commission, telling lawmakers: “To be clear, this is not about the specific person who has been disqualified, nor the members of the school board, as some have tried to argue. suggest”. He also responded to arguments put forward by Democrats that he was playing partisan politics by supporting the June breakup. “I am not questioning the decency of the person appointed; I have known him and have worked with him for many years. I am not calling into question the civic work of elected officials of school boards; they are essential elected officials who represent the families of the school districts and the taxpayers who vote for them. And I do not attribute questionable motives to the leader of the minority. However, intentional or accidental, this was a sloppy nomination process, which tarnished the effort. “

Original IRC member Whitney Lundy started a GoFundMe fundraiser to raise money for a lawyer to challenge the dissolution. The county attorney and the legislature’s attorney called the approach misleading and demanded that it cease. He does not have.

Molinaro didn’t address fundraising until he wrote the memo. “As difficult as it gets, I choose not to question the motives of those involved. These districts need to be drawn regardless of your interests or mine,” he told lawmakers. “If you think, like me, that the district boundaries should be drawn by an independent body of eligible residents, not engaged in political activities, free from partisan influence, disengaged from fundraising and political activities, free from public pressure potential, then it is time for the legislature to move forward with an intact process.

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