Molinaro Sends 171 Reapportionment
Candidates to Legislature for Consideration
County Executive’s unprecedented outreach yields diverse applicant pool
Poughkeepsie, NY … Following the successful, months-long solicitation for applicants, Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro today forwarded to the County Legislature a list of 171 candidates to be considered for appointment to the seven-member Dutchess County Independent Reapportionment Commission, in accordance with New York General Municipal Law Section 10(1)(ii)(a)(13).
Since October 2020, County Executive Molinaro engaged in a multi-platform approach – soliciting for membership via traditional media, direct email to residents, social media and his weekly virtual town hall forums – to inform the public about the opportunity to serve as a member of the Commission, how to apply and the importance of the new Commission and its work. The extensive outreach resulted in a wide cross-section of the community applying for appointment to the Commission, which will draw legislative lines based on population data gathered during the 2020 national census.
County Executive Molinaro said, “Dutchess County has again set an example for counties throughout New York, displaying a bipartisan spirit to provide the most ethical and transparent process attracting the brightest, most quailed candidates for this historic and vital commission. Finding a broad and diverse pool of qualified candidates for consideration for the Dutchess County Independent Reapportionment Commission has been our goal since the since signing the new law in September 2019 and have overwhelmingly succeeded in attracting more than 170 applicants. We thank all who have applied, and look forward to the Legislature’s deliberation to select the most capable committee possible to benefit the residents of Dutchess County.”
Now in possession of the 171 candidates’ applications, the County Legislature must make its initial appointments to the Commission by no later than Feb. 1st: Two members are to be appointed by the Legislature’s majority leader, with two more appointed by the Legislature’s minority leader. Those four members will then select the additional three members no later than Feb. 15th; that Feb. 15th deadline must be met, or all appointments are void and all previously appointed members will no longer be eligible to serve on the Commission.
