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The Cayuga County Republican Committee named Chantell Hotaling to succeed John Camardo, the party's former chair who has served as GOP elections commissioner since 2023. 

Hotaling has been an active member of the local Republican Party. Her involvement includes 20 years as chair of the town of Brutus Republican Committee and 14 years as president of the Cayuga County Women's Republican Club. She has also served on the executive board of the Republican Women of Central New York. 

Outside of politics, Hotaling is a retired county employee — she held various jobs for 32 years — and co-owns Smokey Hollow Maple Syrup with her husband, Jim. She worked as a constituent liaison for Assemblyman Brian Manktelow, whose district previously included Cayuga County. 

Cayuga County Republican Chairman Nate VeVone noted that Hotaling has been a part-time employee for the county Board of Elections. She began as a poll worker and later became a poll manager. 

"I am thrilled about Commissioner Hotaling's appointment and the renewed excitement she brings to our party," VeVone said. 

Hotaling added, "As commissioner, my goal is to provide the voters of Cayuga County with the assurance that every vote they cast will be counted accurately. I am committed to serving our community with integrity and dedication." 

At the local level in New York, county election boards are led by bipartisan commissioners — one representing the Democratic Party and one representing the Republican Party. The party committees select the commissioners, who are formally appointed by the county Legislature. 

Keith Batman will continue to serve as the county Democratic elections commissioner — a post he has held since 2023. The county Legislature approved the appointments at its Nov. 26 meeting. Batman and Hotaling will serve four-year terms beginning Jan. 1 and running through 2028.