Vote New York

Brighton, N.Y. – After the Monroe Community College Board of Trustees deadlocked Saturday over the school’s next president, Bill Smith found something he had in common with fellow candidate Dennis Kessler.

“Mr. Kessler and I are now the only two people who had an easier time of getting into Yale than into Monroe Community College,” Smith said.

At the meeting, Smith, the former Republican county legislator, and Kessler — a local businessman — each received five votes. A third candidate, Broome Community College President Dr. Laurence Spraggs, was not considered for a vote.

Monroe County Democrats charged that five trustees voted in favor of Smith because of his Republican ties in county government and because students and staff did not recommend him.

“Despite having a local candidate that was acceptable to all key constituencies, those board members most closely aligned with Monroe County’s Republican Party voted in favor of Bill Smith,” Democratic Minority Leader Harry Bronson said.

“The only valid explanation for this is political interference. If those trustees truly wanted a qualified local candidate, Kessler could have been selected. The fact is those trustees wanted a candidate with ties to the Republican Party and that candidate was and always has been Bill Smith.”

Smith responded Monday to the claims that he is unqualified for the position.

“That is a crude mischaracterization,” Smith said. “One of the essential qualifications which has been stated by the college itself on its reaffirmation of accreditation application states, ‘The role of the president is primarily external with a focus upon developing and nurturing partnerships with a variety of political, business and community constituencies.’”

Dan Elliott, president of MCC’s Student Government Association, also believes politics are getting in the way of making a decision. Most students and teachers support either Kessler or Spraggs, he said.

“I’m upset that they didn’t even try to put Larry up. I’m not sure the logic behind that. He was the one recommended by every constituent,” Elliott said.

Elliott thinks one of those two candidates should be chosen rather than starting over.
“We fielded two good candidates out of this,” Elliott said. “I don’t think this process should be scrapped and redone.”

This year’s faculty/staff leadership committee issued recommendations for MCC’s next president and listed Smith as “not recommended.”

“While Mr. Smith seems intelligent, he lacks a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced by MCC faculty, staff and students. He was unable to articulate a clear vision for the college. We found his answers circular and lacking substance as he spoke only about his ability to make connections with external constituencies and raise money. While these are important considerations when selecting a president, his lack of understanding of and experience in higher education are problematic at best.”

Now the board will ask the State University of New York for help in recommending interim presidential candidates.

The college Board of Trustees will need to start a lengthy search process all over again to find the successor to the retiring President R. Thomas Flynn, whose contract expires in August.

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