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New Democratic county clerk defends firing of Republican deputy; says he'll be 'hands on,' not a 'supervising administrator'

Posted 3/18/11

CANTON – St. Lawrence County’s just-appointed Democratic county clerk is defending himself following outcries after he fired one of two Republican clerks just hours after he started his new job …

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New Democratic county clerk defends firing of Republican deputy; says he'll be 'hands on,' not a 'supervising administrator'

Posted

CANTON – St. Lawrence County’s just-appointed Democratic county clerk is defending himself following outcries after he fired one of two Republican clerks just hours after he started his new job this week.

In a letter to the editor, Gavin Regan, who began work after being appointed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, says the firing was done to cut costs.

He said he plans on being a “hands on” county clerk instead of just a “supervising administrator,” and as a result, the office can operate with just one deputy clerk instead of two. “There are counties where only one deputy clerk is employed,” he said.

The deputy clerk who was fired, Republican Mary Lou Rupp, has indicated she wants to seek election as county clerk next fall, and would face Regan in the election.

In his letter, Regan said before deciding which deputy clerk to fire, he asked lawyers from both political parties which deputy clerk was most helpful. “Every one of them said that Deputy Clerk #2, Cathy Streeter, was the person who helped them; she was knowledgeable, accommodating and personable. Both deputies were Republicans; both had experience.”

Regan’s complete letter follows:

To the Editor:

For the last few months, ever since I was first contacted by state officials about the possibility of being named county clerk, I have attempted to learn more about how the office functions.

Every time I visited with someone, I was always reminded that the county legislators wanted each department to look for ways to economize in their budgets. I learned that, by law, the county clerk could have two deputy clerks.

However, there are counties where only one deputy clerk is employed.

It seemed apparent to me that if I got the position and was willing to be a “hands on” county clerk, rather than just a supervising administrator, we could probably get the job done with one deputy.

Since I have always believed that you shouldn’t ask someone to do a job that you aren’t willing to do yourself, and that the best way to learn something is by doing it yourself, I vowed, if named to the post, to do all the tasks that people under my supervision did. This way, I would learn faster and might find ways to improve operations.

After visiting the human resources office, I learned that every deputy clerk serves at the discretion of the county clerk that selected him or her. If the county clerk loses an election, the deputy is done – unless the new county clerk chooses to keep the deputy. The deputy may also be terminated, at any time, if the clerk wishes to replace him or her. All deputies understand these facts when they accept this position.

Human resources also explained that a deputy clerk is almost an extension of the county clerk, representing the official and the office, in the clerk’s absence. This is why when a new county clerk takes his or her position, they have the privilege of selecting their own deputy. This is a practice that is long held.

Patty Ritchie and earlier county clerks took that same privilege. Also, the deputy clerks must have the county clerk’s absolute trust.

On Monday, when I was informed of my appointment, I once more assessed how work was being done. After this, I decided to cut budget costs by having only one clerk and doing the rest of the necessary work myself.

Knowing that lawyers use the county clerk’s resources often, I asked several of them who was the “go to” person in the office who helped them most with information and needed documents. Every one of them said that Deputy Clerk #2, Cathy Streeter, was the person who helped them; she was knowledgeable, accommodating and personable. Both deputies were Republicans; both had experience.

But Mrs. Streeter had more longevity than almost anyone else in the office. She had been there over 21 years. Mrs. Rupp had been there eight years.

I chose to keep Mrs. Streeter as my only deputy clerk. Her knowledge and willingness to help will be invaluable to me as I go forward.

I will work diligently to make the county clerk’s office even better than it already is.

The people who work there are its most valuable resource. I intend to rely on their advice and hard work to do as good a job as I possible can.

Gavin Regan, County Clerk