Case against Lyons-Chase withdrawn

PINE PLAINS — Although a court hearing scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 28, was expected to bring issues closer to resolution, Dutchess County Attorney Keith Byron reported Monday, Oct. 26, that he received word the lawsuit against Rosemary Lyons-Chase has been withdrawn.

The challenge to Lyons-Chase’s eligibility as a Democratic candidate for town council was made by town residents Tonya Pulver, Ruth Keeler and Jan Stoutenburgh. The property that Lyons-Chase owns is cut by the county line between Dutchess and Columbia counties.

Byron, who represents the Dutchess County Board of Elections, which was also named in the suit but has not taken a stance in the issue, said he spoke to the law clerk of Judge Christine Sproat, who informed him that the suit had been withdrawn.

Lyons-Chase, in an interview last week with The Millerton News, said she has claimed residence and has been a registered voter in Pine Plains for the last 38 years. She added that she has previously served two terms on the Town Board in Pine Plains.

Pulver is the wife of current Republican town Supervisor Gregg Pulver, who is up for re-election this year but is running unopposed. Keeler is the wife of Republican Councilman George Keeler.

Pulver, during a phone interview after the suit had been withdrawn, argued that Lyons-Chase had been living in a house on her property located in the town of Ancram when she filed to run for Town Board. She recalled that similar questions had come up before when Lyons-Chase had run for political office in the late 1980s.

“It’s real simple,� Stoutenburgh said. “You can run for an office in the town where you reside. If you don’t live there, you shouldn’t run.�

Stoutenburgh and Pulver also said that Barry Chase, Rosemary’s husband, has held political office in the town of Ancram. Chase reported that he was vice president of the town’s Comprehensive Plan Committee, and a Planning Board member for 20 years. He said he was asked to serve because he owned land in Ancram but underscored that he has never voted there and consequently never saw a conflict of interest.

 Keeler and Stoutenburgh did not return requests for an interview.

There have been several court dates following the challenge, and the county sheriff’s office was brought in to investigate where Lyons-Chase was living on her farm. Dutchess County Board of Elections Commissioner Fran Knapp reported that at the last court appearance the sheriff’s report affirmed Lyons-Chase was residing in Pine Plains.

Knapp added that while voter challenges didn’t happen very often, they are part of a resident’s legal rights and they do occur.

Lyons-Chase, in an interview last week, said that she has always considered herself a resident of Pine Plains, and contrary to Pulver’s statement said there has never been an issue over her residency during any of the previous election races she has been in.

“My hope is that everything will be cleared,� she said. “[My husband and I] have never had a question ourselves about where we resided.�

“I like Rosie as a person,� Pulver commented about the suit withdrawal, “and I’m glad it’s been cleared up.� Pulver said she will be satisfied with the court’s decision as long as Lyons-Chase follows the judge’s orders about living arrangements.

“I’m grateful for the end of this distraction to our campaign and burden to our party,� Lyons-Chase said in a statement after the decision. “I’m grateful from the outpouring of support from the people in Pine Plains, and I’m looking forward to the election on Tuesday.�