TRR photos by David Hulse Spring along the Upper Delaware (Click for full story)

Who will chair the county Legislature?

By DAVID HULSE

MONTICELLO — With the May 31 effective date of Rusty Pomeroy’s resignation drawing closer, the Kentucky Derby wasn’t the only horse race going on last weekend.

Pomeroy (D-3), who has chaired the Sullivan County Legislature since its 1996 inception, is leaving to take a position with a New York City/Washington DC law firm.

In addition to the extra $9,000 in annual salary, the holder of the position chairs the regular monthly and executive committee meetings and has considerable power in setting the county’s agenda.

Four of Pomeroy’s colleagues, Leni Binder (D-7), Chris Cunningham (DC-1), Rodney Gaebel (RC-5) and Robert Kunis (D-8), have expressed interest in the job.

Seasoned observers of government center politics say that the appointment is a toss-up among the three Democrats, who will continue to hold a 5-3 majority when the new appointment is made in June.