It took two votes, but Earl VanWormer was re-elected as chairman of the Schoharie County Board of Supervisors Monday evening.
Brand new Schoharie Supervisor Chris Tague received votes in both rounds and Phil Skowfoe of Fulton also received votes in the first vote, but it was Mr. VanWormer who emerged with a majority of votes.
The vote was extremely close after the first vote with both Mr. VanWormer, of Esperance, and Mr. Tague getting votes from six supervisors each. Four supervisors voted for Mr. Skowfoe. According to the weighted vote system that the board uses, Mr. VanWormer led 1,297 to 1,169, but did not have a majority of the total votes so a second vote was needed.
In the second vote, 12 supervisors voted for Mr. Van Wormer, four voted for Mr. Tague.
Both Mr. VanWormer and Mr. Tague are Republicans and Mr. Skowfoe is a Democrat.
Tony VanGlad of Gilboa, a former board chairman, was elected vice-chairman receiving votes from 11 supervisors. All four Democrats voted for Mr. Skowfoe, another former chairman, and one, newcomer Pete Coppolo of Middleburgh, supported Mr. Tague.
Mr. Coppolo voted for Mr. Tague three times, twice for chairman and once for vice chairman.
After he was elected chairman, Mr. VanWormer, who took over in the fall as chairman last fall for Dick Lape of Richmondville, thank supporters and spoke about the challengers of the new year.
Mr. VanWormer said he appreciate the support and added, "I hope I'll live up to everyone's expectations. I'll do the best I can and that's all I can promise."
He noted that there are five new supervisors on the 16-member board.
"It's a pretty daunting role we're taking on for the new supervisors," he said welcoming the new members.
As for committee assignments, Mr. VanWormer told supervisors that he named incumbent supervisors as the chairmen of the committees and named the rest to their areas of expertise.