The Elections Commission unanimously voted to elect GOP appointee Don Millis to replace Dem appointee Ann Jacobs as chair of the body starting on June 10.
Millis, who was elected yesterday without opposition, previously led the commission after beating fellow GOP appointee Bob Spindell for the post in 2022.
Spindell, who has frequently clashed with Jacobs during commission meetings, thanked her for doing a “tremendous job” as chair over the past two years.
“It’s been a tremendous amount of work for you and I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it. I also appreciate (you), for the most part, letting me talk when I wanted to talk. And the very few times that you had to shut me down, it was good entertainment for everybody,” Spindell said.
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Millis said he enjoyed Jacobs’ chairmanship.
“The only thing that’s resulted from this is that I instruct the staff I never want to sit between you and Commissioner Spindell,” Millis said, prompting laughter from Jacobs.
The commission also selected Spindell as vice chair and Dem appointee Carrie Riepl as secretary, the only members eligible for the positions this time around.
Four years ago, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, appointed Millis to the commission to replace former GOP state Rep. Dean Knudson, who abruptly resigned from the body. Knudson said at the time he was no longer an effective representative for Republicans and that higher-ups in the party had made clear they didn’t want him to be chair.
Spindell openly campaigned to become chair and was the sole vote against Millis four years ago. It requires a two-thirds vote of the six-member committee to win the gavel.