Assemblywoman Calls for Removal of MCC Trustees ROCHESTER, NY (WXXI) - State Assemblywoman Susan John is calling for the SUNY System's Chancellor to take control of the search for a new president at Monroe Community College.

The Rochester assemblywoman sent a letter Friday to Doctor John Clark, the Interim Chancellor of the State University System. She's calling for Doctor Clark to fill what she calls "the void of leadership left by the current MCC Trustees." John says that should start by Doctor Clark removing the MCC board members from office, and supervising the naming of a new board.

Assemblywoman John says the Rochester community plus the faculty and staff of MCC have made it clear they have no confidence in the search process to replace Tom Flynn as the community college's president.

John says she's talked with the SUNY Chancellor's Office, which isn't convinced it has the authority to remove the MCC board members. John believes the chancellor does have that authority.

MCC Trustees are appointed half by the governor, and half by the Monroe County Legislature. John says that process should be supervised by Chancellor Clark. She says Clark should also make a recommendation for who the new MCC President should be.

John admits that SUNY rarely steps into a school's administration. But she says she's been quiet about the search process long enough.

The search for a new Monroe Community College president broke down after the board added businessman Dennis Kessler and lawyer Bill Smith to the list recommended by two different search committees.

SUNY spokesperson Dave Henahan says neither the chancellor nor the SUNY Board of Trustees has the authority to remove community college trustees.

Since both had connections to the Monroe County Republican Party, charges of political influence began flying back and forth. Kessler eventually won over a majority of the MCC faculty and student leadership during his candidate interviews. But the board deadlocked between Kessler and Smith, and decided to start the search process over from square one. © Copyright 2009, WXXI