Two Seek Treasurer’s Seat

By Matthew Avitabile with help from Chris English

SCHOHARIE — Two candidates are seeking the Treasurer’s position after the resignation of Treasurer Mary Ann Wollaber-Bryan earlier this year. Michelle Price, 57, was appointed Interim County Treasurer by the county Board of Supervisors at the tail end of the Friday, Aug. 15 meeting after the board came out of an executive session.

While she will serve through the end of the year by virtue of the appointment, Price is not looking at the job as a short-term prospect. She is running unopposed for a two-year term as treasurer in November to fill out the rest of Wollaber-Bryan's unexpired term and then intends to run for a full four-year term in 2027, saying she would like to hold the job for many years.

And while her election on Nov. 4 is virtually assured barring some unlikely large write-in vote for another candidate, it's not in Price's nature to take anything for granted.

"Nothing is ever assured," she said in a recent interview from her new first-floor office in the county building. "I don't count my chickens before they're hatched. I just do what I'm supposed to do."

Price said her interim appointment was not a big surprise since she had already been unanimously endorsed by the Republican Committee Caucus to run for treasurer on Nov. 4. She will also appear on the Conservative Party line that day, and no other candidates from any party have filed to run for the position."When it was brought to my attention (Wollaber-Bryan's retirement) by the Republican Party, I felt like it was an opportunity of a lifetime," Price said.

Prior to the appointment as interim treasurer, Price had worked in the third-floor county Board of Elections office for eight years, moving up first to Senior Elections Specialist and then, in 2021, to Republican Deputy Commissioner. She did the budget and other finances for the BOE for much of her time there.

Price started her county employment in 2017, working a short time for the Department of Motor Vehicles before moving to the BOE. Her work experience before 2017 included being CFO (Chief Financial Officer) for a national flooring company and working in Human Resources for the Target Corporation.

"In both of those jobs, I did payroll, processing, accounts payable and receivable and was in charge of large sums of money," Price noted.

She said she is using the first few weeks of her new job to get thoroughly acquainted with all aspects of the Treasurer's Office operation.

"We all work together as a team," Price said of the 10 staff members, including herself, in the Treasurer's Office. "Right now, because I'm so new here, I'm trying to find the dynamics of how the office works, so I've been shadowing the employees.

"I'm very much excited by this opportunity. The office seems wonderful. Everyone has been very welcoming. I've already learned lots of stuff in the short time I've been here."

County Board of Supervisors Chairman Bill Federice feels the Treasurer's Office is in good hands with Price.

"I believe we are very fortunate to have Michelle bring her business and administrative experience to the County Treasurer's Office," he wrote in an email to this newspaper.

Price is a Schoharie girl through and through, growing up in the village right behind Schoharie Central School and graduating from there in 1986. She and her husband still live in the village and raised "three beautiful, successful children," in Price's words. She lives close to the county building and walks to work, noting that it's good exercise.

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.

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