Committee examines 'Constitutional County' designation

YATES COUNTY--Members of the Yates County Legislature Ad Hoc Constitutional County Committee received mostly negative feedback from the public during a meeting on Monday, Aug. 22. While some members of the public spoke in favor, the majority who spoke were opposed to the idea.
"This is a special meeting to look at the pros and cons, whether we would consider becoming a Constitutional County," said Ad Hoc Co-Chair Mark Morris.
Constitutional Counties are a rising trend that would require the passage of a resolution where the legislature vows not to infringe on what they say are constitutional rights; and challenge, in court if need be, any attempts to do so.
A Constitutional County is a concept founded by Kirk MacKenzie and lists its mission as, "Our governments at every level--federal, state, and local--have been corrupted by systemic problems that have ended representative government, leaving us taxation without representation. The Constitutional County provides a blueprint of specific changes to be made to restore our founders' progressive visions of world peace through equality and free will, not subjugation."
The group highlights "redistribution of wealth," "indoctrination" including "critical race theory," "masks and jabs," "the end of country borders," and "gun confiscation" as some topics on their website. The site also promotes a "Stop the Steal Contest" and "Get Rid of the Election Machines," referencing the 2020 election.
While the public portion of the meeting started off with an individual speaking in support of the concept, the vast majority of those who spoke did so to oppose the possibility of becoming a Constitutional County.
"I urge people interested in this movement to contact the Republicans in Chemung County who rejected it and who saw to the core that this is a separatist movement... If you want to be a separatist, just say it," said Tracy Mitrano.
Along with questioning the need for such a measure, many who spoke expressed concern that if the measure were to go through, being a Constitutional County could cost residents money by forcing the county to participate in frivolous lawsuits or alienating visitors or businesses.
Things occasionally became heated such as when a member of the public accused the Ad Hoc Committee of not doing any due diligence and putting the county in a precarious position with no benefit as a result.
Both Morris and co-chair Carlie Chilson spoke favorably of a visit to Cattaraugus County, which is a Constitutional County. Members of the committee said Cattaraugus hasn't incurred any financial issues relating to grants or the like but also admitted they haven't done any projects that would require them recently.
Members of the committee also insisted that part of the appeal is how excited residents who support the measure and the Cattaraugus County Legislature have been since implementing it.
The committee also acknowledged that they decided to broach the issue with an Ad Hoc group following public comment over the course of the last several months where four people spoke in favor of becoming a Constitutional County.
"Whose big idea was this? Who is stirring the pot?" questioned Brenda Reynolds.
Throughout public comment, those who spoke out against becoming a Constitutional County received applause from those in attendance resulting in the committee asking them to limit such behavior.
In the end, no action was taken, however the committee did schedule a Sept. 26 meeting at 1 p.m. to further discuss the issue.
"We are going to be researching the topic and bringing it back to the legislature with a full report," said Morris.