POUGHKEEPSIE – Members of the disbanded Dutchess County Independent Reapportionment Commission who sought to have the court prevent the legislature from disbanding it have lost their lawsuit. The decision was signed by Supreme Court Justice Hal Greenwald on December 29, 2021.
At issue was the Democratic appointment of Richard Keller-Coffey, a school board member. The rules that formed the commission prohibited any elected official from serving on the commission.
Chief Assistant County Attorney Chris Cullen, counsel to the commission, raised the issue in June and recommended that the legislature disband the current commission and select seven new members. At the end of July, the legislature voted to disband it, against the objections of the Democratic minority. The Democratic lawmakers claim that Keller-Coffey’s service on the school board does not count as being an elected official. The judge disagreed.
Legislature Chairman Gregg Pulver charged the Democrats “irreparably tainted” the independent review process.
“The definition of an elected official certainly applies to school board officials. We were confident. It’s too bad it took this step to convince people, but we are happy with the decision and will be moving forward with a new committee and following our pledge for an independent redistricting for Dutchess County,” Pulver said.
County Executive Marc Molinaro also responded, saying “I ran on, advocated for and support independent redistricting in this county. Frivolous partisan lawsuits aside, Dutchess County will have independent redistricting.”
The law firm representing former commission members Hance Huston, Christina VanHorne, Whitney Lundy, Bryan Faubus, and John Pelosi did not return a request for comment.
