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Conflict of Interest Questions Raised on Putnam's Republican Party Head
Defeated primary candidate questions dual role for Anthony Scannapieco, Jr. as Election Commissioner
by Margaret Sternberg
Carmel resident Rick Montes appeared before the October 16, 2007 meeting of the Legislature's Personnel Committee to request the legislature take action to prevent an individual from being a Commissioner of Elections while also heading a political party in the same county.
Montes based his request upon treatment he claims to have received at the hands of Anthony Scannapieco, Jr., the head of Putnam County's Republican Party and the Republican Commissioner of Elections. Montes, who is a Republican, told the committee that, in an effort to "do things correctly," he had repeatedly contacted the Republican Party and had been "ignored completely." According to Montes, at various times when he attempted to register as a candidate for the District 5 Republican primary, he and his wife were subjected to intimidating behavior that included Mr. Scannapieco coming out of his office and "standing over the girls that were there" as well as "glaring" at the Montes.
Montes said that he eventually had gone to the Westchester County Board of Elections because he "didn't think I would get a fair shake here." Montes based this upon Mr. Scannapieco having been quoted in a local paper having said, "No one is willing to wait their turn any longer. They believe they have the right to do what they want, when they want to do it, despite the wishes of the party." These comments, Montes contends, are at odds with Scannapieco's ability to "fairly run the Board of Elections."
Dr. Scannapieco took issue with Montes' allegations, saying that he had "ignored" Montes and that he did not know what Montes' wife looked like and that the allegation was "being made up for whatever reason." He added that if he had come out of his office at all when Montes was there, "I didn't look at him; I didn't say anything to him…the staff handles…the counter."
The one time they spoke, according to Scannapieco, was when Montes filed his petition. Scannapieco said that he had asked Montes about Commissioner Reginald LaFayette in the Westchester County Board of Elections, who had reviewed Montes' petition. Montes had, during the committee meeting, depicted this action as another attempt at intimidation.
Scannapieco said he asked because he had found the request to review of the petition "odd," adding that it is something that is "not done." He said he had also found it odd that Montes, running as a Republican would have had the petition reviewed by the Democratic Commissioner in Westchester County.
Montes said he viewed Scannapieco's actions as "adding another burden on somebody who wants to get involved in being an elected official. Not just for me, but for anybody that comes along." He added, "I don't think it's fair that a person is in his position in the Board of Elections where people who are trying to run for office. He gets to play kingmaker, picks the candidates and then has a say in what goes on when you come before the Board of Elections…Even if nothing's going on, the appearance of impropriety is there…I think the Legislators should just make it a rule that they just can't hold these two positions..."
Mr. Scannapieco scoffed at the idea of separating the positions, adding that a number of Election Commissioners throughout NYS are also Chairman of their respective County's Democratic or Republican Party. He pointed to Commissioner LaFayette as being the Chairman of the Democratic Party in Westchester. Scannapieco said he didn't think holding the positions concurrently "makes a difference," adding "Everybody, when they don't get the support of the
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