December 6th, 2019 by WCBC Radio

 

A day after saying that the term of Dr Ed Root on the school board would run through 2022- the governors office has admitted a mistake in the wording on the official commission and now say the term runs through next year. Root was sworn into office this week to fill the vacant seat on the Allegany County Board of Education-with the general consensus  being that he would hold the seat until the next board election which is set for next year. The confusion began with the wording on the official commission from the governor’s office stating clearly that Root was “appointed and commissioned as a member of the Allegany County Board of Education for a remainder term of four years from the General Election of November 2018”.   When contacted for clarification, a spokesperson for the governor’s office said the appointment was in fact to run through 2022.   Allegany County Clerk of Court Dawn Lindsey, who conducted Root’s swearing in, confirmed to WCBC News that the official commission does indicate Root’s tenure would cover the length of the term in which Foote was elected to serve.  Foote was elected in November of 2018 and began his second term in office in January of this year with that term to run through the end of 2022.  Foote  was removed from the school board  by the state in October for misconduct in office. Late Friday morning the governor’s office corrected the initial information , saying it was an error and that Root will serve only through next year, as there is a school board election in 2020.  Since the official commission and the swearing in was conducted with the language stating that Root will be  serving the remainder of the four year term- it is not known if a second swearing in would have to take place with the correct wording and terms.  A spokesperson for the governors office told WCBC News that it is not believed a second, clarifying swearing in will be necessary.