NYC Board Of Elections Chief Fired Week Before Election

George Gonzalez

After less than three months on the job and a primary election that Mayor Bloomberg deemed a "royal screwup," the head of the Board of Elections was dismissed today by the Board's commissioners. George Gonzalez, who started at the $172,753 job in mid-August, is described as a "product of the Bronx Democratic party" by the Daily News. Some of the party leaders in the Bronx were reportedly pushing hard to keep him in the position, but Board President Julie Dent tells the Daily Politics, "The board has voted to terminate our executive director, George Gonzalez... He's been with the board for 22 years, and again, we appreciate it."

Gonzalez has taken a beating in the press for the snafus that plagued Primary day, which critics say could have gone much more smoothly with better organization. The new optical scan voting machines arrived late or not at all at some polling sites, some workers were inadequately trained and prepared, and a number of polling sites opened hours late. Earlier this month, it came to light that Gonzalez didn't e-mail school administrators to request that custodians come in early to open the schools until 5:36 p.m. the night before the election! Current Deputy Director Dawn Sandow, a Bronx Republican, now becomes acting executive director.

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By John Del Signore in News on October 26, 2010 4:11 PM

Comments [rss]

Jimbo853okg

I was pleasantly surprised by this, as I wasn't going to work Election Day next week. It's not enough but it's a start. There's a lot of work to be done, and next week will be a mess, but let's be optimistic - BOE has nowhere to go but up.

Ed

Well the nice thing about this appearing next to another Carl Palladino story is that I can't really bring myself to care if my vote gets counted in this election anyway.

The election is already a joke because of the campaign and the candidates. If the Board of Elections is going to screw up an election, it might as well be this one.

bonu$baby

This election next week is going to be completely FUBAR.

thatsomeoneisme

Now how can the guy buy another gold necklace?

John Clavis

Good call. If there's one thing we know Republicans are good at spotting, it's election fraud. Whether it's actually taking place or not, they'll spot it.

Unless it helps the Republican of course.

ANGRYGOD11

Of all the pictures of George Gonzalez, why this one?

I'm sure he wears a suit, sometimes. As a public official, I'm sure he did.

Maybe if his last name was more Anglo or ended in berg, he would have a better picture.

thefacts

Oh please!

If you had taken the time to google, you'd see this is among the first to appear. In fact, it is the photo that the Daily News used in breaking the story.

Furthermore, if there was any PR baiting, JDS could have included the remainder of the photo - with Gonzalez grasping onto a can of Coors Light! Gothamist certainly showed restraint.

Must everyone be so fucking sensitive!

Joan Angelson

He was making $172,000! He'll be lucky to make minimum wage after this.

fuboy

What was his position before taking the top spot? Yes man? Office Lackey? I mean, how do you go 22 years in an organization and not know how to handle the one thing that organization is for?

thefacts

Among other non-descript jobs at the Board of Elections, he was the chauffeur to the former CEO. The chauffeur!

His academic credentials were impeccable, graduating in four years from DeWitt Clinton HS in the Bronx, which is not too far away from the Bronx HS of Science after all.