Riverhead Republican Committee vice chairman steps down
The Riverhead Republican Committee’s longtime vice chairman has had to resign from both that position and the Republican committee itself as a result of a new job he’s taken.
George Harkin, who has been a committee member or alternate member for at least 16 years and has been vice chairman of the committee for more than five years, submitted his resignation last week after taking a position in the state attorney general’s office.
“I took a new job in the attorney general’s office and there is a prohibition about being on a political party committee,” he said.
In his previous job as a principal law assistant for a state Court of Claims judge, he could not be chairman of a political committee, but he could serve on the committee and as vice chair.
Asked if he would still be able to work behind the scenes, but not as a committee member, Mr. Harkin said, “There are certain things you can do within the bounds of the job, because you still have rights as a citizen. As long as I stay in those bounds I will be OK, but I can’t be a committeeman or an officer of a party.”
“This is big loss,” said Republican committee chairman John Galla. “There’s no question, George’s talents and experience were second to none. I relied heavily on George.”
Mr. Galla said that, traditionally, the committee chair picks the vice chair, so Mr. Galla is searching for a new vice chair.
He said the position will probably be filled at the committee’s next meeting sometime in mid-April.
