MONTICELLO — A new slate of legislators took their seats on Tuesday morning, being sworn in to a four-year term as the Sullivan County Legislature. There will be four new faces on the board, with five incumbent legislators returning to the position.

A few expressed feeling hopeful for the future and a hope that they can all work together, and some expressed gratification for “politics” being over and are ready to get to work.

“Now that all the politics are over, I hope that we're all going to work together well,” said District 5 Legislator George Conklin. “I think it's a great group of people, and I believe everybody has the best interest of the county at heart. I look forward to working with you guys.”

In a 4-5 vote, District 1 Republican Legislator Rob Doherty was named Chairman. Doherty is a freshman legislator, coming in after defeating incumbent Scott Samuelson, who previously held two terms.

District 1 covers the towns of Tusten, Cochecton, Bethel and Highland. Doherty ran on a campaign of wanting more oversight of the Sullivan County Industrial Development Agency and the Sullivan Catskills Visitors Association.

The previous legislature approved a plan to build a new visitors center in Rock Hill, but Doherty and some of the other new legislators oppose it. Doherty was strong-willed in his conviction to see changes in both of those agencies.

Other legislators may have previously thrown their hat in the ring to become Chair, but it ultimately came down to Doherty and District 7 Legislator Joe Perrello.

Perrello secured votes from his fellow incumbents Nadia Rajsz, Luis Alvarez and Ira Steingart.

Incumbent District 9 Legislator Alan Sorenesen broke from the pack of incumbents and cast his vote for Doherty, helping secure the fifth vote needed to win.

A unanimous vote named Mike Brooks as Vice Chair, putting brand new legislators in the top two positions.

Sorensen was named Majority Leader and Steingart was named Minority Leader. Indeed, the Democrats are in the minority with only two legislators, Steingart and Rajsz.

“As the minority leader I can tell you this last legislature the Republicans still had a majority and we worked great together,” Steingart said. “On a local level, party politics really aren't important, we're not dealing with those issues. The county is heading in a great direction, a lot of great things have happened, and I'm looking forward to working with all of you to continue that.”

Perrello echoed those sentiments, saying, “We have a lot on our plate to finish up that we started last year.”

Some of those projects include implementing a public bus transportation route, starting a broadband pilot program and opening the new Sullivan County Jail. A ribbon cutting for the jail was held in October, but it still hasn't begun operations.

Committee Assignments

Public Safety

Nicholas Salomone, Chair

Luis Alvarez, Vice Chair

Government Services

Mike Brooks, Chair

Alan Sorensen, Vice Chair

Economic Development

Alan Sorensen, Chair

Ira Steingart, Vice Chair

Real Property

Alan Sorensen, Chair

Michael Brooks, Vice Chair

Veterans

George Conklin, Chair

Nadia Rajsz, Vice Chair

Health and Family

Nadia Rajsz, Chair

Luis Alvarez, Vice Chair

Management and Budget

George Conklin, Chair

Nadia Rajsz, Vice Chair

Parks and Agriculture

Luis Alvarez, Chair

Nadia Rajsz, Vice Chair

Human Resources

Rob Doherty, Chair

Luis Alvarez, Vice Chair

Public Works

Joe Perrello, Chair

Mike Brooks, Vice Chair

Executive

Rob Doherty, Chair

Mike Brooks, Vice Chair