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Tompkins County votes 8–7 to add Chief Equity and Diversity Officer to county charter
Summary
After a public hearing and extended debate, the Tompkins County Legislature adopted Local Law E (2025) to make the Chief Equity and Diversity Officer (CDO) a charter-protected position; supporters said the change preserves continuity, opponents warned of costs and federal scrutiny.
Tompkins County legislators adopted Local Law E of 2025 on Dec. 2, 2025, adding a Chief Equity and Diversity Officer to the county charter after a 8–7 roll-call vote. The vote followed a public hearing that drew more than a dozen speakers and detailed debate among legislators about the role’s costs, authority and relationship to existing offices.
Supporters, including county employees and community advocates, said codifying the CDO protects long-term equity work from budget cycles and turnover. Rachel Graham, a 19-year county employee, told the legislature that the office has led initiatives such as an institutionalized equity report and department-by-department equity indicators and urged the body to “affirm that equity is not optional, temporary, or expendable.” Veronica Pillar and other proponents tied the change to the county’s strategic operations plan and a diversity statement that the county has already adopted.
Opponents questioned whether the role has delivered measurable improvements and cautioned that placing the office in the charter could increase legal or financial risk. One public speaker, introduced by the chair as Zach Wynne, urged the legislature to “please vote no on adding the chief equity and diversity officer role to the county charter,” calling the position an unnecessary administrative expense. Legislators who opposed the measure said the job description needs clearer boundaries and stronger coordination with the Office of Human Rights and other advisory groups before a charter amendment.
Government Operations Chair Amanda Champion moved the local law and said the amendment only establishes the position’s permanence; technical details and job duties would remain subject to the county administrator and subsequent legislative oversight. After extensive floor debate that included questions about the position’s accomplishments, potential federal repercussions and whether the work belongs in human resources, the council recorded a roll-call vote. The motion passed by an 8–7 margin.
What’s next: The local law takes effect according to county procedures for charter amendments. The legislature and county administration discussed follow-up work, including clarifying the CDO job description and how the office will coordinate with WDIC (Workforce Diversity & Inclusion Committee), Team JEDI and the Office of Human Rights.
