MONTICELLO, NY— The raised voices, the cutting each other off, the legislator-on-legislator lawsuits are all a thing of the past.

This was the commitment of the new Sullivan County legislature, which spent much of its first meeting promising to collaborate, follow procedures, communicate, and respect one another. Legislators said they were unified whether Republican or Democrat, newly elected or long-serving.

Joseph Perrello (District 7-R) said he hopes county employees will be more comfortable working with this new body. 

In a unifing move, the new legislators elected bipartisan leadership. Nadia Rajsz (District 2-D) will serve as chair — the first woman to serve in that position in 20 years. Terry Blosser-Bernardo (District 9-R) was the lone no in that vote.

Rajsz moved to take the elevated seat in the center of the room reserved for the chair. “This is the first time we’ve had a female chair in I don’t know how long,” she said. “So I’m hoping I can bring a new perspective, a breath of fresh air, into our legislative body.”

The county clerk, AnneMarie Martin, said Rajsz would be the first woman as chair since Lenny Binder left that position in 2003.

“I’m not the best, I’m not saying I’m the best, but I’m grateful that I was chosen as chair and my colleagues have faith in me,” Rajsz told the River Reporter. “I’m going to give it a whirl, my 110 percent and prove them right.” 

She then added, “It’s not about me, it’s about us.”

The new legislature’s diversity across gender, racial, and age lines was another point of pride during the first meeting. 

Perello noted, to warm applause, that Amanda Ward (District 8-R) is the first Black woman to serve on the board. 

Ward expressed her gratitude. “I’m going to bring smiles, cheer, and joy,” she said. “A lot of reality, but smiles, cheer, and joy.”

Bipartisan leadership

Voting to decide the vice chair was almost as quick. Newcomer Catherine Scott (District 5-D) nominated Luis Alvarez (District 6-D), pointing to his experience. “He was previously the chair, and you saw how the process went,” she said. “I believe in there being that process.”

Brian McPhillips (District 3-D) and Amanda Ward (District 8-R) nominated Perello, who became vice chair in a 7-2 decision, with Alvarez and Scott voting no. 

Alvarez told the River Reporter later he had just gotten off the phone with Perello, and the vote didn’t change their relationship. “It’s part of the system,” he said. “I’m going to do what needs to be done for our community.”

Rajsz explained why she crossed the aisle to vote for a Repubican. “It’s not that Joe is better than Luis,” she said. “We feel that Joe has been here as long as Luis, and it’s time for Joe to rise to the vice chair position.” 

She added, “I’m Democratic and Joe’s Republican. We want to run this legislature in a bipartisan fashion.” 

Perello listed the qualities that will make him a good vice chair: “Being in business for 40 plus years, a councilman, legislator, not holding grudges, coming to compromise, and coming to a solution is something I’m good at.”

Scott, Rajsz, Alvarez, and Perello all told the River Reportr that their split opinion in the vice chair vote will not affect their good working relationship going forward. 

Perello said he was “looking forward to working with young fresh people in local government and working with them to move forward with their new ideas in a good direction.”

What does the chair do?

Luis Alvarez, who has previously served as chair of the legislature, explains:

The chair conducts legislature meetings and so sets the tone and facilitates discussions. 

The chair can’t act without the other legislators but serves as the face of the legislature, representing the county on the state or national level. 

The chair makes speeches at events. “They represent us in everything,” Alvarez said.

The chair does not exercise more power than other legislators.

The chair and vice chair get paid more: $43,600 and $39,600 respectively, compared to majority/minority leaders and other legislators, at $37,100 and $34,600, respectively.