Lawyer Announces Write-In Campaign for Treasurer

By Matthew Avitabile

SCHOHARIE — Lynette Lawyer has launched a campaign for Schoharie County Treasurer as a write-in candidate. She said that she hopes that her years in professional accounting and municipal budgeting can be helpful.

She was born and raised in Schoharie County and except for studying for a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Public Accounting, she has spent her entire life in the county. Over the last 29 years, she has worked in public accounting, including working in governmental accounting. This included brief periods in both town and school district accounting. She grew up in Seward, went to Cobleskill Central School. Her father, the late Conrad Bader taught at Sharon Springs Central School. Her mother Carol Bader was a dental hygienist between several districts, including Cobleskill, Richmondville, and Sharon Springs and worked for Dr. Lancaster Dental Group, which is now Cobleskill Dental Group. Lawyer currently lives in Carlisle, following living in Cobleskill. Her late husband Jeff Lawyer was from Richmondville.

Lawyer owns two businesses, including Cellar 77 Plaza Liquor and as Lynette S.B. Lawyer, CPA in Cobleskill.

Since working in Cobleskill, she has done accounting for the Towns of Cobleskill and Seward.

Lawyer had been offered the Democratic Party’s caucus. She had been an independent but switched to the Democratic Party following the caucus. However, the filing for the ballot was after the deadline. Lawyer is seeking the election as a write-in.

“I still want the voters to have a say,” she said.

The candidate said that she has considered running for the position for several years now. She said that with her kids going to college, this is the right time for such a move.

With Treasurer Maryann Wollaber-Bryan departing earlier this year, Lawyer said that it was important to seek the office before there is a new elected incumbent.

Lawyer contrasted her experience in the field as part of the Treasurer's position.

The candidate said that she would like to offer support for the staff of the County Treasurer’s office. She also cited the new accounting system the county is using, and hopes to make the process more efficient.

She cited Cobleskill Town Clerk Tina Ward’s support for her “analytical abilities.” This includes possible savings and efficiencies for taxpayers. This would offer a valuable perspective to bring to the County Board of Supervisors, she said.

Lawyer cited multiple efforts to save funds for Seward and Cobleskill on their costs, including through investments and health expenditures.

There is a “learning curve” to running a write-in campaign. Both the first and last names must be spelled correctly and the entire write-in must be within the boundaries of the appropriate area. Ballots that don’t meet these two requirements would be rejected.

Every vote matters, said Lawyer. She hopes that everyone will make it to the polls on Nov. 4. Voters are eligible to cast their ballot for County Treasurer in all 16 towns. Absentee ballot applications are open now and early voting will start later this month.