Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: Wednesday, May 16, 2001
Release # 155-01

Contact: Sunny Mindel/ Peter Fenty
(212) 788-2958


MAYOR GIULIANI ANNOUNCES THE FORMATION OF A TASKFORCE TO
EVALUATE NEEDS OF THE NYC BOARD OF ELECTIONS

Three-Member Panel in Place for the Upcoming 2001 Elections

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani announced today the formation of a three-member taskforce that will evaluate the funding needs of the New York City Board of Elections. The appointments today will allow sufficient time for the members to study issues confronting the Board of Elections, and to make recommendations for the upcoming 2001 election cycle.

The Mayor appointed Manfred Ohrenstein, Councilman Martin J. Golden and Edward Costikyan to the taskforce.

"I want to thank Fred Ohrenstein, former Minority Leader of the State Senate, Edward Costikyan, former New York County Democratic Chairman and Councilman Marty Golden for their willingness to serve on this taskforce. Their collective years of experience and their expertise will be of enormous value in improving the election process. I look forward to reviewing their recommendations," said Mayor Giuliani.

The formation of the taskforce comes at a time when the Administration is in the process of negotiating the City budget. The members' recommendations on the financial, personnel and logistical needs of the Board of Elections will be considered during the budget talks. The taskforce is charged with working with the City Council, the Board of Elections, the Giuliani Archives | Mayor's Office, the Office of Management and Budget, and other appropriate parties in developing its findings and recommendations.

With the approach of the primaries; looming term limits for many incumbents, including Mayor, Public Advocate and Comptroller; and the volume of candidates who have declared for Citywide and Council races, the 2001 election will prove to be a critical period in the City's electoral process. The taskforce's recommendations on the operations of the Board of Elections are expected to result in a more orderly, reliable and dependable election year, and should encourage greater voter participation.

 

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