The Monroe County Legislature chose to postpone a vote to make longtime City Councilmember at-large Jackie Ortiz the new Democratic Elections Commissioner on Tuesday.
The decision to postpone the vote drew anger from some legislators.
Assistant Minority Leader Ernest Flagler Mitchell said at the meeting and in a statement that there is a court proceding underway that precludes the legislators from moving forward with a vote to confirm Ortiz.
Several other Democrats objected to this claim, splitting the party vote.
Ortiz was put forward to fill the position after acting Democratic Commissioner Lashana Boose said she would not seek the spot full-time.
Ortiz released a statement on Tuesday:
"It is unfortunate that the voices of Democratic Committee members and their decision is not being honored. 86% of Democratic Committee members supported my candidacy and tonight’s decision to delay my appointment signals a devaluing of such vote. This delay tactic and undermining effort continues to push out the timeframe for the people's work to get done. I am fully prepared to work hard and do what is necessary to ensure we are equipped for November. Voters deserve a smooth process absent the bumps in the road experienced during the primary and for the sake of the voters it is time to move ahead."
Majority Leader Steve Brew said the Republicans declined to push a vote on Ortiz Tuesday as "it is not the responsibility of the Republican Legislative caucus to determine who will be confirmed as the Democratic Board of Elections commissioner, nor should we be put in the middle of this ongoing discussion."
Legislators Yversha Roman, Rachel Barnhart, John Baynes, Linda Hasman, Howard Maffucci, Joseph Morelle, Jr., Justin Wilcox and Michael Yudelson released a joint-statement:
“We are deeply disappointed that 15 of our Republican colleagues and five of our Democratic colleagues in the County Legislature blocked the appointment of the Democratic Commissioner for the Board of Elections. Jackie Ortiz was overwhelmingly selected in a duly authorized vote of the members of the Monroe County Democratic Committee, and certification of that was submitted by the Party Chair to the President of the Legislature, as required by law. Even more egregious, this group used a procedural tactic - based on a court order that does not exist - to prevent any comment or debate on the item. Doing this just minutes after approving the renaming of the Monroe County Airport after Frederick Douglass, who stood for the rights of all citizens to be represented and heard, is shameful.”
