Loren Kent, who lost out on being the next Democratic elections commissioner, has decided to step down from his post as secretary of the county Democratic Party.

Earlier this month Kent shared with the OBSERVER and The Post-Journal that he planned on staying in his position, even as a number of local Democratic committee members were resigning.

Many of those individuals questioned the leadership of Norm Green, current county Democratic Chairman, former election commissioner and now candidate for county executive. Green has been no stranger to being critical of Kent, noting that Kent had lost the bid to become election commissioner and then accused him of manipulating the voting using “weighted votes” which Green has emphatically denied.

But after an article ran about him planning on staying on, which included Green accusing Kent of aligning himself with Dunkirk City Councilman Don Williams, Kent decided he needed to step down.

In his resignation letter, Kent recounted the past year and a half, accusing Green of trying to “double dip” by continuing to work as elections commissioner while receiving his pension, saying that Green forced out Williams from the position of vice chairman of the county committee, and that he placed people on committees in towns where they didn’t reside.

He further criticized Green for his leadership over the past decade, where Republicans have taken over every countywide office. “To deflect attention from his own failures as our leader, Norm Green, continues to make the absurd claim that I have allied myself with Dunkirk City Council member Don Williams, and that ‘we’ are the problem. But, the facts are clear, under Chairman Norm Green, Chautauqua County Democrats have LOST every county-wide elective position, and now Norm is running himself for County Executive. All Norm can do is blame others, and manipulate facts,” he wrote.

Kent went on to defend himself and accused Green of being a bully. “I’ve had enough with bombastic behavior and bullying. I’ve been a member of the Chautauqua County Democratic Committee for 35 years, was a State Committee member for 18 years, and have served as County Committee Secretary for nearly 20 years. I have campaigned in every Town, City and Village in Chautauqua County. I have served as campaign manager or advisor to dozens of campaigns,” he wrote.

Kent added that he harbors no ill will toward Luz Torres, who ended up getting the position of election commissioner and believes she should become the next secretary. “I have no bitterness towards Luz Torres, and I wish her well. I hope her two years’ experience as Norm Green’s deputy serves her well. And, I hope Luz will take the Committee Secretary post and become a true party leader,” he wrote.

Even though Kent is resigning from the secretary position on the executive committee, he will still be a member of the county Democratic Party. “It is my intention to stay as the elected County Democratic Committee member representing the Town of Ellington, and I do hereby retain said post. Rural Democrats in Ellington have had tremendous success, and I want to continue that positive work,” he wrote.

When asked for a response, Green offered no criticism of Kent. “With regret, the Chautauqua County Democratic Committee accepted Loren Kent’s resignation as secretary of the county committee,” he said.