Cayuga County will soon have a new elections leader after Democratic Elections Commissioner Keith Batman announced he is stepping down.
According to The Auburn Citizen, Batman’s resignation will take effect Feb. 28, ending his tenure after just over a year in the role.
Batman was appointed in 2023 to complete the remaining term of Katie Lacey, who retired with two years left in her term. He initially planned to serve only through that period but later decided to remain longer.
He told the newspaper he stayed on after Republicans declined to reappoint John Camardo in 2024. Camardo’s successor, Chantell Hotaling, took office in 2025.
Batman said leaving at that time would have meant two new commissioners starting simultaneously — a challenging situation he experienced in 2023. Batman added that he also felt there was no clear successor in place at the time.
He considered stepping down at the end of 2025 but delayed his departure to oversee planning for a southern Cayuga sewer district vote and the beginning of the election petitioning process. He said he decided this winter was a more appropriate time to leave, with petitioning set to begin later this month.
The Cayuga County Democratic Committee has selected Ken Warner of Sterling to replace Batman. The appointment must be approved by the Cayuga County Legislature.
Party leaders selected Warner during an endorsement meeting Monday. Lawmakers are expected to formally confirm the appointment in the coming weeks. Officials have not yet announced when Warner will officially begin his duties.
