Poughkeepsie – To the victor goes the spoils. Now that Democrats have control of the Dutchess County Legislature, they have voted to bring in their own choices for Legislature Clerk and Deputy Clerk.

Barbara Hugo will replace the former Republican appointee Patty Hohmann as clerk and Jon Gautier will replace Carolyn Morris as deputy clerk.

Thirteen Democrats voted for the appointments and the 11 Republicans voted against them.

GOP Minority Leader Gary Cooper was concerned about not being told about the two newcomers’ qualifications.

He would have liked to have seen their resumes and had an opportunity to question them, he told fellow lawmakers during discussion about the appointments.

But, fellow Republican Marge Horton talked of the realities of the situation.

“Simple fact is, it is what it is. Let’s face it, these are political appointments,” she said.

Lawmakers again debated the appointment of a new legislative attorney, David Sears, to replace Scott Volkman.

Republicans had argued, at the January 31 meeting, that Volkman could not be replaced because by charter, the appointment is for five years.  Democrats, pointing to other wording in the County Charter, claim the counsel serves “at the pleasure of the legislature”.

Legislature Chairman Roger Higgins said last night that while Volkman had signed his oath of office in 2003, he failed to sign it again when he was reappointed in 2006, and therefore was not duly serving and could be replaced.