After listening to the concerns of the Student Senate and Faculty Senate, MCC's board of trustees went into executive session for more than an hour on Monday, only to emerge without a decision on who will be the college's fifth president.

"We discussed at length the candidates, and we will reconvene on May 17," said board chair Richard Guon. "This is in our best interest."

One trustee said he did not think the delay signaled trouble. And he said that he was "encouraged because we appear to be making progress."

Student and faculty leaders met with Lawrence Spraggs and former candidate Kenneth Ender, who has since withdrawn from contention. Spraggs and Ender, both college leaders, were recommended by two separate search committees. The committees later met with local businessman Dennis Kessler and local attorney Bill Smith, who were added to the list of finalists by a majority of trustees.

Smith did not impress the faculty or students, but Kessler "rose to the occasion," said Matthew Lawson, speaker for the student government.

"We like Spraggs's connections to SUNY," he said. "But Kessler's business experience was impressive, and he showed a vision for the college."

Spraggs is president of Broome Community College in Binghamton.

Selecting Smith, a Republican heavyweight, would draw the college into more controversy. Critics have charged that the search is being manipulated to give Smith the presidency.

If having a local candidate is the issue, "We can agree on Kessler," said Terry Tugel, president of the Faculty Senate. "It's important to have everyone's support."