Proud to support free and fair elections

This essay appeared in THE CITIZEN - Cayuga County’s Daily Newspaper on March 12th, 2026

By Kenneth Lee Warner,

Cayuga County Democratic Commissioner of Elections

Starting this month, I’m embarking on a new adventure.

I’m being sworn in as one of Cayuga County’s Commissioner of Elections. There are two commissioners, one Republican, ChantelI Hotaling, and one Democrat, me.

It’s a part-time job, with full-time responsibilities.

I think it’s a first to have someone serve from the north part of the county. And, when I bought my place 25 years ago, it was not my intention to be on this path. My little A-frame cabin was a dream for retirement. I bought a boat, a motorcycle, a new roof, and a woodstove. With my hand-made canoe, and my two dogs, I looked forward to the day when I could fly fish in the bay, drink a few beverages by the fire, and meet some new people.

Fate has a funny way of taking over a dream.

I did meet lots of new people like Charlie Itzin, and Brian DiBernardo. Andy Joyce and Chris Colloca.  Morely Flynn and Bruce Hornburg (may he rest in peace).

I honed my sailing skills, did some fishing, and fell in love with Fair Haven and the Town of Sterling. I even became a New York State Park Ranger at Fair Haven Beach State Park, a duty I truly enjoy.

But something else happened.

Along the journey, someone asked me to help out on some local elections. I have spent much of my lifetime working on political campaigns throughout New York State, and I’ve worked on over 100 elections. I’ve won some and lost some, but I can tell you, winning is a whole lot better.

And so, I agreed to help.

That was about 10 years ago, and I think we’ve made a difference for the betterment of our community.

Just before Christmas, when Commissioner Keith Batman asked if I would be interested in a second retirement from active politics, I found myself on this new path. Commissioners generally avoid active campaigning as we represent the interests of everyone no matter what the political affiliation. There are just over 50,000 voters in Cayuga County out of a population of just over 76,000.

As Commissioners of Elections, with the support of our tiny staffs, we’re the people ultimately responsible for guaranteeing safe and secure elections.

Recent years have been characterized by a lot of election controversy. And, whether you characterize them as accusations or revelations, one thing is sure … guaranteeing the sanctity of the voting process is paramount to upholding the Constitution in America.

I’m honored to have this responsibility. I consider it my duty as a patriot, in the true sense of the word. I believe that patriotism is all about loving your country … with all its imperfections … and engaging in the election process in order to improve our Democracy.

It’s a belief that should not be unique to Republicans or Democrats. Instead, it is a code for all. Along with several of my neighbors in my little town of Sterling, we’ve reached across party lines to help elect town and village governments that are made up of Democrats AND Republicans, because in local elections, we believe that there is no “Red or Blue” … only community

“Like it or not, we live in interesting times. They are times of danger and uncertainty; but they are also the most creative of any time in the history of mankind. And everyone here will ultimately be judged - will ultimately judge himself - on the effort he has contributed to building a new world society and the extent to which his ideals and goals have shaped that effort.” -- Robert F. Kennedy, June 5th, 1968, after winning the California and S. Dakota Democratic primaries.

The next day, he was assassinated.

I intend to fulfill my duties for Cayuga County with his words always in mind.