TOWN OF NEWBURGH – Democratic town clerk candidate Jen Knox’s 2011 felony driving while intoxicated conviction could impact her eligibility to serve as a notary public, an important function of the office.
Although a notary commission is not required to serve as town clerk, the Town of Newburgh Town Clerk’s Office provides a variety of notary services to the public. The state generally bars people with felony convictions from becoming notaries unless they receive an executive pardon, a certificate of relief from disabilities, or a certificate of good conduct.
Knox said she obtained a certificate of relief from disabilities from Orange County Court in January and is scheduled to take the notary public exam next month. She said the New York Department of State will determine her eligibility after she completes the exam.
Knox’s opponent, Republican incumbent Lisa Vance-Ayers, who is seeking her fourth term, is a notary public. She has worked in the Town of Newburgh Clerk’s Office for nearly a decade. A notary public verifies the identity of people signing documents, witnesses and authenticates signatures, administers oaths and affirmations, and handles documents such as affidavits, sworn statements and other legal or business records.
Knox spoke openly about her legal issues more than a decade ago and her battle with alcohol.
“I am proud of the life I have built over the past fifteen years of my recovery,” Knox said. “My past is part of my story, but it does not define the person I am today. I want to use what I have learned, both professionally and personally, to serve my community.”
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, an estimated 27.9 million people (9.7% of the U.S. population) aged 12 and older had an Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) in the United States. More than 170,000 Americans die from the effects of alcohol in an average year.
“My experiences have taught me resilience, accountability, honesty, compassion, and the value of hard work,” Knox added. “I worked full-time to put myself through school and managed to graduate summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in political science. “If anything, my personal trials and commitment to sober living have enabled me to more deeply understand others.”
Knox pleaded guilty to felony DWI in December 2011 after her third DWI-related offense within 10 years. The prior convictions elevated the charge to a felony.
Knox, who works as a constituent liaison for Assemblyman Jonathan Jacobson (D, Newburgh), was arrested Nov. 18, 2011, after Town of Newburgh police received a report of an intoxicated driver leaving the Green Olive restaurant, according to police and court records.
According to a police report, Knox was driving with a license that had been revoked because of a prior DWI conviction. She was also charged with first-degree aggravated unlicensed operation, a felony, and second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation, a misdemeanor.
Knox pleaded guilty to felony DWI in December 2011 in Orange County Court before Judge Jeffrey G. Berry. Berry sentenced her to 100 days in Orange County Jail and five years of probation.
“I would hope that voters will judge me on my qualifications, my integrity, my record of service and what I intend to accomplish as Town Clerk,” Knox said. “I don’t believe my past is a scandal. I have always been open about my history. While I regret breaking the law by operating a vehicle with alcohol in my system, there is hardly a family that hasn’t been touched by addiction in some way. I am not ashamed of who I am and have been in recovery for almost 15 years.”
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