Albany County Democratic Legislator Jack Cunningham of Delmar is taking a shot at becoming Bethlehem’s next supervisor.
A special meeting of the town board to discuss the impending departure of Supervisor Theresa Egan is scheduled for Thursday, April 12, just one day after Egan’s last scheduled day on the job.
Egan, who has served as the town supervisor for the past three and a half years, is expected to assume her duties as deputy commissioner for the state Department of Motor Vehicles next month.
Deputy Supervisor Dan Plummer, who is a part-time town board member, will most likely assume Egan’s duties immediately following her departure. However, at the Wednesday, March 28, meeting of the town board, Plummer said the town needs someone full time, and he is unable to serve in that capacity.
I am in a position where I cannot devote full-time to the business of supervisor, Plummer said.
Plummer put forth a motion to meet and discuss the transition period between Egan and the next supervisor on April 12, with the intention of having the town appoint an interim supervisor to fill the position until the November election.
Cunningham, a Delmar resident and county legislator in the 34th District since 2004, is Plummer’s choice for the interim post.
`I am supporting Jack Cunningham,` said Plummer. `He is the kind of guy who will just take over and hit the ground running.`
Cunningham is already soliciting support from town Democrats by announcing his intention to run for the position in November after the interim period runs out.
`I am very interested in filling the vacancy when Terri leaves,` said Cunningham. `Since I was a kid, I always wanted to be the town supervisor, but the hardest part for my family is the immediacy of all this.`
If the town board were to appoint Cunningham on April 12, he would then have to resign from both his part-time county legislative seat and his full-time employment at Key Bank, where he serves as a technology project manager.
Town board member Kyle Kotary said no matter what the town board decides, the residents will see the same quality of leadership that Egan provided.
`We are losing a great supervisor in Terri, but the ship is headed in the right direction,` Kotary said. `We will still have a smooth transition.`
Kotary agreed that Cunningham would be a great supervisor.
`I support him both personally and professionally,` said Kotary.
`This is a huge step for me, but I am excited about it,` said Cunningham.
The town supervisor position pays $99,000 annually. There are currently three Democrats and one Independent on the board who will make the decision about the interim supervisor.
Also at the Wednesday meeting, the board approved a measure allowing Living Resources to locate a group home for four developmentally disabled women at 61 Orchard Street. The board unanimously passed the measure just two weeks after tabling the issue to allow residents of the Orchard Street neighborhood more time to learn about the organization. Once again, a large group of residents were on hand to support Living Resources.“