Schulz ends hunger strike, Haff pledges support

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By Dan King

A supervisor says he is growing frustrated with the “politics” of the Washington County Board of Supervisors.

When the board decided last week not to hear discussion on two proposed resolution questioning the constitutionality of the Common Core education standards, Hartford Supervisor Dana Haff pledged to raise the resolution at next month’s meeting.

Dana Haff Headshot 2015
Dana Haff

“I’m going to bring it back in August, so we can actually have a discussion on it,” Haff said.

Following that, activist Bob Schulz ended a 17-day hunger strike.

Schulz had brought resolutions to the Washington County board last Friday – the second time he’s done so – and things grew contentious between two supervisors.

Because the resolutions were brought in on the day of the meeting, a two-thirds vote was needed to discuss them, or someone who voted against Schulz’s original resolutions – dated in February – would have to make a motion to discuss them further.

After nobody who voted “no” came forward to make the required motion, Haff, who voted for Schulz’s resolutions the first time, spearheaded a move to have them discussed again.

While Haff spoke, Granville Supervisor Matt Hicks chimed in to point out that an attorney was waiting for the discussion to conclude so the board could enter executive session. Haff responded: “This is the Constitution, Larry can wait.”

After the meeting, Haff said: “It’s sad that an attorney on the clock is more important to some supervisors than the Constitution that we pledge to support. The fact that they won’t vote just to have discussion is fully political.”

Haff’s motion to discuss the resolutions further was seconded by Salem Supervisor Seth Pitts, but it was shot down in a roll-call vote. Haff and Pitts were joined by “yes” votes from Darlene Dumas of Fort Ann, Dan Shaw of Easton, Brian Campbell of Hebron and Bob Shay of White Creek.

The “no” votes came from Hicks, Mitch Suprenant of Fort Edward, Sara Idleman of Greenwich, Dave O’Brien of Hampton, Jim Lindsay of Kingsbury, John LaPointe of Putnam, George Armstrong of Whitehall, Bob Henke of Argyle, Cassie Feddler of Cambridge and George Gang of Dresden.

Haff wasn’t the only supervisor frustrated with the county not at least having a debate on the issue.

“To vote without a debate as a board, I don’t think we’ll vote intelligently,” Shaw said.

Schulz, who recently persuaded the Fort Ann town attorney to call his constitutional argument “valid” and his resolutions “non-binding,” led the Fort Ann board to table a discussion on the topic because Dumas was absent. The Fort Ann board will reportedly consider a special meeting to vote on Schulz’s resolution.

Haff and Schulz both pointed out that the county was the first in the state to pass a resolution asking Albany to repeal the SAFE Act. Additionally, the county has passed similar resolutions asking the state to consider a medical marijuana growing facility in the county. Haff supported both of those resolutions.

“In talking with other supervisors they say ‘it’s not our domain,’ but it is our domain,” Haff added. “Admiral Yamamoto advised Japan not to invade America because behind each tree there would be Americans with guns. We don’t defend the Constitution like that anymore.”

Schulz, following Friday’s meeting, decided to end his hunger strike, which began on July 1. The Warren County Board decided it would bring up his issue in committee, Fort Ann’s board planned to discuss it further, which Schulz said he was “optimistic” about, and Washington County discussed it, with Haff pledging to bring it back up.

All along Schulz said he was looking for “responsive responses” from the governments that represent him and he said these responses constitute a responsive response.

As for the county board, Haff said he will bring the resolutions up in the August meeting. That, he said, will force the board to have a discussion and then vote on the resolutions.