By DAVID HULSE

MONTICELLO - The Sullivan County Legislature this week will likely begin considering replacement candidates for the treasurer's job vacated with the appointment of Dan Briggs as County Manager.

In addition to Deputy Treasurer Olga Parlow, Legislator Chris Cunningham's (DC-1) name was one of the first mentioned for the position and one of his colleagues last week claimed Cunningham now has the votes on the Legislature lined up to win the appointment. But Bob Kunis (D-8) said he was concerned that Cunningham's appointment might require Cunningham's own vote in the Legislature. "He should resign first, if he wants it. It looks like 'musical chairs' all over again. I wouldn't be a part of anything that looks like a fix," Kunis said.

Kunis referred to the infamous "musical chairs" incident in which Monticello officials planned a series of resignations and appointments to assume different village postions. A lawsuit went to the state's highest court, where the job switches were overturned.

Cunningham said he had been asked to consider the job and remained interested in it. He denied that any agreements on the appointment were in place, but said he would not resign prior to any vote on the appointment. "I'm not resigning. I'll do it if I'm asked, but I like my life the way it is," he said.

He said he had not decided if he would vote on his appointment if the situation arises.

He did not see a problem in assuming the job without a formal background in finance. "I think Danny was a lawyer when he was first elected. I've dealt with budgeting on the town and county levels. I can handle it," Cunningham said.

Cunningham is employed full time as a supervisor at the Recovery Center in Monticello.

While there have been rumors of various candidates for the job, Legislative chair Rusty Pomeroy last week said there had been few formal applications. Pomeroy declined to reveal who he might support for the job, but said the position should be refilled before Briggs' scheduled departure on October 1.