In what was described as a “huge turnout” by one poll worker, voters in the town of DeWitt voted two-to-one to keep their town clerk someone who is elected by residents and not appointed by the town board.
On a vote of 953 to 530, voters voiced their belief that the town clerk should remain a political position, and thereby set the stage for an election this November — an election for which both Democrats and Republicans already have chosen their intended nominees.
The Sept. 23 town clerk referendum was intended by the town supervisor to be an apolitical move based on financial savings and government consolidation, but it became a controversial issue when Republicans claimed the intent was nothing more than a Democrat power grab and an attempt to steal away the people’s right to choose their own government representatives. Both sides campaigned hard to win Tuesday’s vote — and neither side expected the results to turn out as they did.
“You never know what the turnout will be like, but we were certainly optimistic,” said DeWitt Republican Party Chair Matt Wells. “Both sides worked very hard. But we did not think it would be a sure thing, no.”
“No, I did not expect this result,” said DeWitt Democrat Party Chair Sylvia Matousek. “I think [the Republicans] spent a lot of money to win the election. It’s okay; we’ll do what we have to do.”
The proposal to convert the town clerk position from an elected to an appointed one came this past July, after longtime DeWitt town clerk Barbara Klim announced her retirement. Angela Epolito, assistant to the supervisor, was appointed as interim clerk by the town board.
Town Supervisor Ed Michalenko, a Democrat, said he proposed the idea of converting the position as a way to save the town more than $50,000 and improve its municipal efficiency — he also felt that the town clerk’s duties are administrative and not political and the job therefore should not be politically selected.
“We felt all along this was not a controversial issue,” Michalenko said. “It made sense from a less government, more efficient cost perspective. We thought it was a good cost-saving initiative.”
The election results suggest that voters disagreed with Michalenko’s — and the town Democrats’ — position.
“I’m disappointed. We tried our best to get the word out. Obviously the public has spoken and we’ll listen,” Michalenko said. “Those that participated, their voices will be heard. Now we’ll prepare for the election.”
Town Councilor Jack Dooling, also a Democrat, said he did not expect such a turnout. “I’m also surprised we lost by 400 votes,” he said Tuesday night. “We’ll start work tomorrow [Sept. 24] with Angela on her campaign for November. We’re confident she’ll win because she is the best candidate and the most experienced. We’ll do a lot of hard work to help her.”
Both candidates for the town clerk election on Nov. 4 were present for the referendum vote count Tuesday night.
“I’m not doing this to be a politician; I love my job and am very dedicated to the town,” said Epolito, who was selected by the town Democrat caucus as its candidate in November and endorsed by the DeWitt Conservative Party. “I’m a little surprised [by the vote result] but the people voted. Now I’ll prepare for the election.”
Epolito has been a town employee for 14 years, serving as assistant to the supervisor, town manager, town engineer and secretary to the zoning board.
Karen Beseth, who was selected two weeks ago by the Republican Party as its town clerk candidate, said she did not see the referendum vote as a political issue, just that town residents wanted to have their say in who represents them.
“I’m happy the people of DeWitt had the chance to vote and voted to keep their vote,” said Beseth, who has 20 years of experience in the insurance industry, and has been an office manager, bookkeeper and accountant for her husband’s contracting business since 2008.
While the voter turnout for Tuesday’s referendum was high for a special election, compared to elections from 2011 to 2013 it was somewhat underwhelming.
There are 16,115 registered voters in DeWitt as of September 2014, according to the Onondaga County Board of Elections, and 1,483 — or just more than 9 percent — turned out to vote Tuesday night.
According to county BOE statistics, DeWitt town elections in 2013 had 5,832 voters (35 percent); 2012 elections had 12,536 voters (77 percent); and 2011 elections had 5,814 voters (36 percent).
The affiliations of registered voters in DeWitt breaks down to 5,963 Democrats; 4,785 Republicans; 4,256 with no party affiliation; 756 Independents; 246 Conservatives; and 54 Working Families.
The two candidates now have six weeks to campaign and reach out to the various voter blocks until the Nov. 4 election.
Jason Emerson is editor of the Eagle Bulletin. He can be reached at [email protected] or 434-8889 ext. 335.
