Politics

Klingon elected in New York State

Jake Harris Contributor
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These days, there are all sorts of third parties in American elections. But only Tomkins County, New York can claim representation with the Klingon Empire, after voters elected a prolific “Star Trek” guest actor to a local town board Tuesday.

John Hertzler, according to the Star Trek wiki Memory-Alpha, is one of a handful of actors who have played more than seven roles, including the Klingon general Martok, in the enduring and popular science fiction franchise. Hertzler was elected to the Ulysses Town Board for a two year period Tuesday, Albany Watch Blog reports.

The 64-year-old former actor is an adjunct film professor at Cornell University. He is on record opposing hydrofracking in New York, saying on his website that the drilling technique “is not compatible with human habitation and must not be allowed to happen here.”

In fact, fracking has repeatedly been shown to be a safe and extraordinarily promising source of pre-dilithium power on Planet Earth. (Related: Energy secretary: Fracking can be done safely)

Hertzler’s anti-science position may even put him at odds with officials in the Empire State. (Related: Leaked NY state analysis says fracking is safe)

Nevertheless, the newly elected board member’s professional experience suggests he is a force to be reckoned with. According to Memory-Alpha, Markok’s “brilliant leadership during the Dominion War made him very popular both among other warriors and among the civilian population. As the leader of the House of Martok, he became a good friend of Worf while the two were stationed together on Deep Space 9.”