After missing a third consecutive Hyde Park Board of Education meeting on Sept. 22, Kevin Post’s term as a trustee is all but over.
The 26-year-old Post has been embroiled in controversy since his comments on a conservative Web site were made public last month. Subsequently, several of Post’s fellow board members have called for his resignation.
Many have construed Post’s comments as denigrating liberals, homosexuals and anti-war protesters.
Fellow Republican and Town Supervisor Yancy McArthur, while not commenting on the nature of Post’s comments, said it was appropriate for him to resign.
“In my opinion, Kevin should probably have attended the last meeting, apologized and resigned. At least he would have walked out with a sense of feeling a little bit better about himself,” said McArthur.
McArthur’s comments were tinged with regret.
“He has a lot of potential and he appears to be a good person. He just bought a house and got married. It’s unfortunate, but some of the things he said would make it difficult for him to serve. I think it would be appropriate for him to resign,” said McArthur.
Hyde Park Republican Committee Chairman Andrew Imperati said Post was unanimously voted onto the committee last spring. Imperati was asked if Post would continue in that position, in spite of the recent controversy.
“Absolutely,” he said.
At the next board meeting, scheduled for Oct.11, the board is expected to decide whether to hold a special election or appoint a temporary successor.
An electrical operations engineer at Central Hudson, Post was elected to the board in May, running as a self-described advocate for the taxpayer, promising to make fiscally prudent decisions for the school district.
That will most likely not happen. After three consecutive unexcused absences, the board can declare Post’s seat vacant and set about finding a replacement. Board President Kevin Sheehan has said that reasonable efforts would be made to contact Post before moving the process forward.
“We’re going to make an effort to call him or talk to him and try to find out if there’s a good and valid reason or explanation for missing the meetings,” said Sheehan.
Trustee Dan Duffy said the board had not identified a possible replacement for Post.
“There will be a public discussion at the next board meeting,” he said.
Contacted earlier this week, Board Vice President Sharon Matyas said Post has been in contact with Superintendent Carole Pickering. Matyas declined to disclose the nature of the communication.
Matyas said, according to protocol, Post was instructed to contact district clerk Debbie Reutzel. Matyas would not comment on whether a replacement for Post had been discussed.
“We’re going to have an announcement at the beginning of the next board meeting,” she said.
Post has refused to publicly comment on his postings on the Free Republic Web site, all made prior to carrying 1,267 votes in the May school board elections. While he was the leading vote-getter in the election, his silence and absence from the board’s first three meetings of the new school year have fueled speculation that he would step down in deference to his venerable employer.
Despite the publicity surrounding Post’s comments, officials at Central Hudson said they had not pressured him to refrain from attending meetings.
“What our employees do on their own time, as long as it is legal and ethical, is their own business,” said Central Hudson Spokesman Paul Tesoro.
Post’s comments on the Free Republic Web site included a description of a 2004 anti-war demonstration in Kingston.
“The leftist scum massed on the Academy Green with about 100 in number,” wrote Post.
In a 2004 message, Post recounted a FREEP, or Free Republic counter demonstration in New Paltz.
“This evening we FReeped the dykes - women? - in black again.”
Women in Black is an anti-war group.