By DAVID HULSE

MONTICELLO - Dan Briggs became the ace of the Sullivan County pitching staff Monday when Legislative chair Rusty Pomeroy (D-3) announced the selection of the homegrown candidate as Sullivan's new county manager.

The 48-year-old Briggs was born in upstate Gloversville, but was raised in Monticello, where he went on to serve 17 years as county treasurer, twice re-elected without opposition. Briggs is a local guy and even in the midst of Monday's excitement at the appointment, he could easily digress to recall his days playing softball, "pitching mostly" for some of the county's "beer league" teams.

In addition to his professional qualifications, that kind of intimate knowledge of the county was important to the legislators that selected him, said Rodney Gaebel (RC-5)."Danny Briggs will be able to hit the ground running," Gaebel said.

Briggs said he will take some time to reflect on his goals for the new job before he assumes it on October 1. Contract arrangements were said to be pending Monday, but Briggs reportedly will earn $89,000 in the new job, a $29,000 leap from the Treasurer's post.

His departure will likely spark a lively competition to fill his treasurer's job, "but that's a fracas I won't get involved in," he said.

Generally speaking, Briggs said he wants to see some of the projects the county has undertaken either completed or set aside. "Either commit to them or withdraw. I don't like things half finished," he said.

Topping the list of projects in question are the Route 17 visitors center and the Emerald Corporate Center, but others fall closely behind. "What are we doing with the industrial park at the airport?" he asked.

Briggs says his financial background will serve him well in these considerations, "because I'll always remember where the money has to come from."

Describing attributes he felt important in the job, Briggs first named honesty and tolerance, followed by an ability to communicate and listen. "People are bright. If you disseminate the information, they'll come up with informed opinions, but you've got to get the information out," he said.

In the immediate future, Briggs said he has been given an opportunity to review the draft material for the 2001 budget, but coming on weeks before its required approval, he's not sure how much input he will have on the spending side. "The revenue side comes from my office, so I'm already intimately familiar with that," he added.

Gaebel said the legislature was also interested in finding a candidate who was looking to stay and not "fill in a resume."

"This is not stepping stone for me. This is my home and I'd like to end my career in public service here," Briggs confirmed.

The St. Lawrence University graduate is a divorced father of three school-age children, and is engaged to be married to Anna Hess of Fremont.