The stakes in the search for MCC's next president have just been raised.

A college Board of Trustees meeting this morning failed to yield a selection, and instead revealed an evenly divided board. The meeting convened at 9 a.m., and while the board was expected to go into executive session, members instead took two votes. The first was to name Dennis Kessler president. That vote ended in a 5-5 tie. Voting for Kessler were: David Ladwig, Mike Nuccitelli, Lori Van Dusen, Richard Warshof, and Ilene Flaum. Against: Richard Guon, Wayne Zyra, Kenneth Goode, Richard Mackey, and John Parrinello.

The second vote was to give the presidency to Bill Smith. That, again, ended in a 5-5 tie. Voting for Smith were: Guon, Goode, Mackey, Parrinello, and Zyra. Against: Ladwig, Nuccitelli, Van Dusen, Flaum, and Warshof.

A vote was not taken on finalist Laurence Spraggs. The meeting lasted about 15 minutes

Board chair Richard Guon said the selection process will likely have to start all over again.

The nomination of Kessler, who impressed students and faculty, was seen by some board members as a compromise, since having a local
candidate was one of the demands made by attorney and board member John Parrinello. He nominated Smith this morning amid jeers from a packed room of faculty and students.

"By appointing Mr. Smith, I feel we fail as a board for this college," board member Lori Van Dusen said.

Bill Smith is former majority leader of the Monroe County Legislature and a Republican Party insider. Critics of the process have long said that the search is being manipulated to give the president position to Smith.

Smith simply does not meet the very specific criteria set forth in the selection process, board member Richard Warshof said.

When board member Mike Nuccitelli spoke out against Smith's nomination, one of his colleagues accused him of making a political speech as if he were
running for office.

The stalemate is not unprecedented, said Denise Bukovan of SUNY at a meeting of the Faculty Senate right after the board meeting.

"This has been a good process, though I don't think you are happy with the outcome," she said. "This is really not a SUNY decision. It's really in the hands of the board."

One former board member, Nathan Robfogel, encouraged senate members to continue to examine ways to reach a compromise on another candidate , not Smith.

No date was given for the next board of trustees meeting.