TRR photo by David Hulse “Chairlady” Leni Binder is pictured taking the oath of office from County Clerk George Cooke following her June 13 election as the second-ever chair of the Sullivan County Legislature. She also needs a new necklace. Her pictured “legislady” pendant has now become understated. (Click for larger image)

Binder is the‘chairlady’

Goldstein named to District 3 seat

By DAVID HULSE

MONTICELLO — With stunning swiftness, the last month’s political drama concluded June 13 as Leni Binder (D-7) was named chair of the Sullivan County Legislature and Republican Greg Goldstein was appointed to the vacant District-3 seat, formerly held by former chair, Democrat Rusty Pomeroy.

Taking her oath of office, Binder, 60, substituted “Chairlady” for chairman. “I’ve been told I’ll have to use “chairman” in official documents. That’s okay,” she said. She becomes the first woman to head county government either in the legislature or the old Board of Supervisors.

The votes were identical in both cases, 5-3, with Chris Cunningham (DC-1), Kathy LaBuda (D-2) and Jonathan Rouis (D-4) in the minority.

Before the vote, county Democrat leaders charged that a deal had been struck to provide Republican votes for Binder in return for Goldstein’s appointment.

Binder had denied the charge, and denied it again after the voting. While she said she had spoken to Pastor Robert McCleod and found him to be “genteel and well spoken,” she said Goldstein has always been her choice of the two.

Sitting in the audience when the vote for Binder was taken, one woman commented despondently, “Now we have a Republican majority.”

Bob Kunis (D-8) chaired the special meeting and provided the fifth vote for Binder. Goldstein said afterwards that he hoped cooler heads would prevail and the recent intra-party squabbling among Democrats would now cease. “I can’t control the discussion, but I can live with my conscience, knowing I did the right thing.”

Cunningham was the other candidate for the chairmanship. He said it was common knowledge among the legislators that the price of the Republican votes was Goldstein’s appointment. “I wouldn’t go for it,” he said.

“Isn’t it interesting that Mr. Goldstein just happened to be here and had a prepared acceptance speech,” he said.

	TRR photo by David Hulse New legislative Chair Leni Binder (D-7) and new appointed District-3 Legislator Greg Goldstein are pictured in an afternoon committee session after both were named to office in a special meeting June 13. (Click for larger image)

After years in politics, the Republican County Chairman said he’s learned to be prepared. “I always carries an acceptance speech,” he said.

Cunningham’s supporters seemed ready to move on. “I have to look ahead. I’m the representative to legislature. I have to do the people’s work. That’s my priority now,” Rouis said.

But LaBuda also recalled the Democrat’s own earlier effort to install a legislator of their party in a Republican seat when Steven Kurlander resigned and was replaced by Democrat Sean Rieber. Rieber lost to Republican Jim Carnell in the ensuing election. “The voters will sort it out,” she said.

In her remarks following the appointment Binder promised “not just good government, but good governance.”

She made a call for unity. “No one alone can successfully solve the problems that lie before us. It is only together as a cohesive unit that these challenges can be met.

“We are all stakeholders in affording this county every opportunity to strive to its full potential. Our children and their children depend on us as policymakers to set directions based on our resident’s best interests, not the future of party lines…On this we can be united. On this we must be united. On this we are united…”