Tyrone supervisor announces resignation

TYRONE—Tyrone Supervisor Gary Jackson announced he will step down from his position by the end of this year during the regular Tuesday, Nov. 12, town board meeting.
Jackson won the seat in the 2011 election as a write-in candidate and took office Jan. 1, 2012.  Board member Thomas Allen said Jackson’s term lasts for another two years.  He added Jackson said he was stepping down to take an out-of-state job.  However, Allen said Jackson didn’t give an exact date for when he would resign except to say at the end of the current budget process.
Chris Bason, Tyrone resident and new board member effective Jan. 1, 2014, was present during the announcement. He said “I was shocked.  I didn’t know it was coming (...)  When he said that my jaw dropped.”
According to Edison Alban, representative for the New York State Department of State, “The town board may, by majority vote, appoint an elector (voter) in the town to fill the vacancy in the supervisor’s position.”  The law also states: “Whenever a vacancy shall occur or exist in any town office, the town board or a majority of the members thereof, may appoint a qualified person to fill the vacancy.”  Alban added, “If the town board selects another elected public officer to serve as supervisor, that person must first resign their other post.”
Allen also said no official decision has been made on who will replace Jackson for the remaining two years of the term.  Board member Pamela Grimmke did not return phone calls last Thursday and Friday by press time.  The Observer also called Jackson’s office during open hours Thursday, but no one answered.  Deputy Supervisor Cartha Conklin did not return a phone call from Monday by press time either.
Allen said the board has three possible candidates to appoint.  He explained the board will want someone who can “operate a computer and run the books.”
“I don’t know who’s going to be put in there,” said Bason about Jackson’s replacement.  “It’s kind of a shock.  It’s hard to find someone to throw in there.”  He added one possibility is having Conklin take over Jackson’s responsibilities until a replacement is found.  However, Bason said she is busy and would probably only be able to do that for a few months.