Albany County Proposal One: Replacing Coroners with Medical Examiners
What does this measure do?
Albany County would replace its four elected part-time coroners with one full-time medical examiner, a doctor trained in forensic pathology. Voters would no longer elect death investigators; the County Executive would pick the examiner for six years, with Legislature approval.
Proposed by: Albany County Legislature (charter law sponsored by Chair Joanne Cunningham and Deputy Chair Wanda Willingham)
Cunningham, a Bethlehem Democrat, leads the county legislature; Willingham has held Albany's 3rd District since 1999. County Executive Dan McCoy says caseloads grew and an audit found poor records.
Source: wnyt.com
A YES vote means
Coroners are no longer elected. The County Executive appoints a licensed doctor with forensic pathology skills as medical examiner for six years, confirmed by the County Legislature.
A NO vote means
Albany County keeps electing its four part-time coroners to investigate deaths.
Sources: content.civicplus.com · spectrumlocalnews.com