County Democratic Committee calls for investigation into primary registration

Last week, Tompkins County Democratic Committee (TCDC) Chairperson Linda Hoffmann called for a criminal investigation by the Tompkins County District Attorney’s (TCDA) office into a series of former Republican voters in Caroline registering as Democrats to vote in a town board primary set to be held on June 27.

In a release, the TCDC said that between Jan. 15 and Feb. 14, 74 voters who were previously not Democrats registered to become Democrats. That month-long time span was also when candidates were petitioning to get on the ballot for the June 27 primary election.

Hoffmann cites New York State Election Law 17-102 Sections 4 and5. Section 5 of the law states that fraudulent activity to change the results of a primary election is a misdemeanor.

Sections 4 and 5 of the law state: “For the purpose of securing enrollment as a member of a political party, or for the purpose of being allowed to vote at a primary election or caucus as a member of a political party makes, deposits or files with a board of inspectors, or with any public officer or board, a false declaration of party affiliation or wilfully makes a false declaration of residence, either by an enrollment blank or otherwise, or falsely answers any pertinent question asked him by the board of election inspectors, or by a member thereof Fraudulently or wrongfully does any act tending to affect the result of any primary election, caucus or convention” would result in a misdemeanor charge.

The release cites former Caroline Town Board Member Peter Hoyt’s video on a private Facebook page called Caroline Hates Zoning, where he said, “I think you’re all aware that we’ve got a little DINO [Democrat In Name Only] thing. Many of us have jumped in already, myself included. The purpose of that is so we can vote in the Democratic primary… You can always change back later.”

According to the release, the video was posted from an anti-zoning meeting held on Feb. 11. Currently, the video could not be found on the Facebook page.

The issue that appears to have caused some former Republicans to switch to the Democratic party is proposed zoning laws in Caroline.

The Town Board is currently considering a 143-page draft zoning law that has faced fierce opposition for the last two years. “No Zoning” signs can be seen throughout the Caroline corridor of state Route 79 and hamlets such as Brooktondale, Besemer, Caroline Center, Speedsville and Slaterville Springs.

Three of the five town board members, all Democrats, are up for reelection in November but did not face a primary challenger until three other registered Democrats stepped up once the petitioning process had started. Only one of those challengers is a newly registered Democrat.

Town Supervisor Mark Witmer, Town Board Member Kate Kelly-Mackenzie and Town Board Member Tim Murray are all Democrats who face reelection in November. They now have primary challengers: Tonya VanCamp is running for supervisor, while Megan Slatoff-Burke and Kathy Mix are running opposite Kelly-Mackenzie and Murray for Town Board seats.

The three incumbents were endorsed Monday at Caroline Town Hall by the Caroline Democratic Committee and the Working Families party.

Hoffmann said she sent a letter to Tompkins County Republican Committee (TCRC) Chairperson Mike Sigler, the TCDA and the New York State Board of Elections calling for the investigation.

Hoffman said a total 140 Caroline Democrats, 53 of whom were newly registered, signed petitions in support of candidates who are against the drafted zoning law. When the TCDC saw the numbers, she said the organization was called to action.

“That’s when it became much more apparent, because this is an underhanded way of really fracturing what people are calling themselves Democrats. It’s something that we as the TCDC and my position as chair felt really strongly about. It was really an attempt, and it continues to be an attempt, to subvert the democratic process. That led us to where we are today.”

Some conservative anti-zoning advocates have said that the Democrat-controlled Town Board does not represent their interests. Hoffmann said the various town meetings held by the Town Board and the Zoning Commission provided an opportunity for residents to express their concerns about any zoning laws.

She also said that the zoning debate has brought many strong voices to the table. Hoffmann said her hope is that the debate about the draft zoning law doesn’t hinder the democratic process in Caroline.

“There are some very significant signs up that are very angry and very violent in their presentation,” she said of anti-zoning road signs seen throughout Caroline. “It seems the community in itself is in a divide. Can the Tompkins County Democratic Committee resolve that? I don’t feel that is what we are there to do, but we’re there to support a democratic process. If you’re going to have a primary, let it be very democratic. It appears from the evidence we’ve looked at that has not been the case.”

Early voting in the primary election begins June 19.

Small Towns appears once a month in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com or geoffpreston8@gmail.com.

In brief: 

Quilting for Good, hosted by Brooktondale Community Center, Dryden Thimble Therapy, and Ellis Hollow Quilters will take place at the CAP ArtSpace Gallery (First Floor) in the Tompkins Center for History & Culture on the Ithaca Commons on May 11 from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. The event is dedicated to the individuals and groups that have given back to the community through sewing. Brigid Hubberman will moderate the event.

Danby Food Scraps Drop-off hours will be held on May 13 from 9 a.m. to noon. Recycle Tompkins will have their weekly food scraps drop-off behind the Danby Town Hall at 1830 Danby Road.

The Caroline Food Pantry at 522 Valley Road, Brooktondale will be open from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on May 15. Caroline and Brooktondale residents are welcome at the food pantry. for more information visit carolinefoodpantry.org or call (607) 539-6810.  

Editor’s note: A correction was made on May 11. The previous version of this article stated that the Democrat challengers were all newly registered as Democrats. This was a mistake; only one of the primary challengers is newly registered. This change is reflected in the current version of the article.