MONTICELLO — According to the Chairman of the Sullivan County Republican Committee, incoming Legislator Rob Doherty (District 1) has enough votes to lead the Legislature in its upcoming term.

As previously reported by the Democrat, a number of legislators are throwing their hat in the ring, including Doherty, current Chairman Luis Alvarez and incumbent Legislator Joe Perrello.

Doherty said yesterday that the vote won't happen until January 3.

“There are a couple people in the race, and until the third no one is the chair,” he said.

He continued, “It's just polling people at this point, some people have more support than others at this point and time.”

Yet the momentum seems to be moving in one direction. Chairman of the Sullivan County Republican Committee Dick Coombe confirmed it is very likely that Doherty will be the next Chairman.

“He is an extremely successful business person and received the highest vote total of anybody that ran for the legislature this time,” Coombe said. “He seems to have the support of many of the new members of the legislature.”

Coombe said it's not official until January, “but as of now that is what the new board seems to be in agreement on.”

Perrello said that he would have made a good chairperson himself, his primary concern is “continuing our stride forward in the county.” Perrello said he will support whoever is elected as chairperson.

The next legislature will be a Republican majority 7-2, with incumbents Ira Steingart and Nadia Rajsz being the only Democrats.

“As one of the two Democrats on the legislature, I will work with whoever is in there. I get along with everybody,” said Steingart.

Doherty is a Bethel resident who owns two businesses in the area. He defeated Democratic incumbent Scott Samuelson, who held two terms and was previously the chairman.

Doherty received 1,396 votes, beating Samuelson by a margin of nearly 500 in District 1, which includes the Towns of Bethel, Cochecton, Highland and Tusten.

A newcomer to public office, Doherty ran on a platform critical of the proposed Visitors Center and of the Sullivan County Industrial Development Agency (IDA).

The legislators will be sworn into office in January for a four-year term from 2020-2024.