A former Bethlehem supervisor wants to be a part of town government again, but the future supervisor isn’t in favor of the idea.
Jack Cunningham, who was supervisor from 2007-09, announced Wednesday, Dec. 14, in a statement that he will seek the board seat being vacated by Mark Jordan at the end of the year. Jordan ran unopposed for the position of town justice in November and will hold that position at the beginning of 2012.
“I continue to have a deep interest in the future of our community and believe that my background and experience will prove valuable as we work toward addressing the significant finance and management issues we will face in the coming years,” said Cunningham.
As for support, Cunningham said he would ask supervisor-elect John Clarkson and Town Board members to back his interim appointment to the board.
But when asked about Cunningham’s interest, Clarkson said he would not support the appointment.
“I respect Jack’s willingness to serve and certainly he is welcome to run for election next year,” said Clarkson. “However, I think that it is highly inopportune for him to seek a Town Board seat via appointment. This fall’s election was very much a referendum on the voters’ right to choose, and given that history the appointment of a political committee vice-chair would be inadvisable.”
Cunningham is the first vice chairman of the Bethlehem Democratic Party’s Executive Committee. He has also announced his intention to run in the special election that will be held next year for the board seat, whether he is appointed to the board next month or not.
“It’s been my belief all along, even in other instances where things have occurred similar to this, that the candidate that’s selected to fill the vacancy should also be committed to completing the term,” said Cunningham. “I’m fully committed to running in November. I intend to run in November.
Clarkson and Cunningham disagree on the issue. Clarkson said Wednesday that he has been recruiting and discussing whom to appoint to the vacant seat, but added he is looking for someone who won’t serve beyond 2012.
“I will be advocating for a true interim appointment – a well qualified but nonpolitical citizen who will serve only for the period until the voters are given this choice in November of 2012,” said Clarkson.
A special election would be held next November for candidates seeking to serve the final year of Jordan’s term. In 2013, the year Jordan’s term ends, another election would be held for a full four-year term on the board.
Two current Town Board members were reluctant to say that restrictions should be in place for determining a person to fill the seat.
“The only thing I care about is that we have a fifth member who can hit the ground running, who has the financial and policy experience to help us make difficult decisions,” said Councilman Kyle Kotary, who will become the senior member of the board in January. “If that person wants to run, that’s great. Do they have to be someone who is willing to run? I personally don’t think so.”
Kotary added that there is something to be said for bringing someone onto the board who has the historical knowledge and background on issues facing the town. He also said that the board would need to consider whether or not to appoint a fifth member before decisions are made regarding other appointed positions in town government.
Councilwoman Joann Dawson said it is unfortunate for anyone to come out quickly and say they don’t support someone interested in the position. She added that she has serious doubts about appointing someone who has no interest in running in 2012.
“To have someone come in for a year that has no accountability, that has no stake in the game, if you will, where they could perhaps come in, make whatever changes they want and walk, without any accountability to the public, doesn’t seem right to me,” said Dawson.
In 2009, Cunningham lost a reelection bid to current Supervisor Sam Messina in a race that came down to a battle over absentee ballots. Cunningham currently serves as the Commissioner of Public Works for the Town of Colonie.
