As it has become widely known for being the first time ever in our nation’s history, former United States House of Representatives Speaker of the House, Kevin McCarthy, was recently ousted out of his leadership role by a vote of his colleagues. 

This comes right off the heels of his recent visit to Sullivan County as a speaker and guest at a fundraiser event for the U.S. Congressman Marc Molinaro (NY-19). That event took place at the Seminary Hill Cidery in the hamlet of Callicoon in August, which was personally attended by members of this paper. 

Despite the status of Mr. McCarthy’s official title within the House of Representatives, his appearance at a Sullivan-county based event, a locally owned and operated venue no less, tells volumes of our draw as a place people want to spend their time and money. 

The Sullivan Catskills saw an uptick in tourism spending over the past year. With growth like this, smaller communities within the county border are benefited with the influx of commerce, even in the off seasons. 

The fundraiser’s celebrant, Congressman Molinaro, represents a large district that encompasses 9 counties, including our own. What does it say to our area’s credit that such an event took place in our backyard and not somewhere else?

However, the former Speaker of the House’s presence in the county reflects not only the success found in our booming tourism economy, but also in our apparent and adamant divisiveness in our own local government body. With politics comes an expected amount of divide, but recent events have shown both county and nation-wide that people with differing views are struggling to meet eye to eye on issues that once were solvable. This has reached a new height of disparity but that does not mean that it will be this way forever. 

Democracy is beautiful because it demands change. With change is demanded accountability.

At least there’s one thing all of us can agree on — Sullivan County is a beautiful place that invites many different people throughout the state and the nation.