Alvarez: “One step at a time …”
MONTICELLO – Republican Luis Alvarez was the unanimous choice to
lead the Sullivan County Legislature for the next four years. He
is part of a six-three Republican majority, the first since Sullivan switched
from a Board of Supervisors to a charter form of government over a decade
ago. Nadia Rajsz is a Democrat, who caucuses with the Republicans
During brief remarks, Alvarez pledged “an open door policy,” giving citizens access to all meetings, including work sessions.
The new chairman said other top priorities relate to growth, starting with the casino.
“One step at a time, and I want to get that done,” Alvarez said. “And that’s one of my goals, is to make sure the casino, new investments, new companies, new business, new progress for Sullivan County.”
He also hopes the new legislature can stick to the timeline set last fall by the outgoing legislature, of going to bid, at long last, on a new county jail, this spring.
“I would like to see the jail finished and done before it keeps increasing more and more and more.”
Alvarez noted something he said he learned just Sunday, that he is the first Hispanic ever in New York State to chair a county legislature.
Sworn in as new legislators were Republicans Nadia Rajsz in District 2, Catherine Owens in District 4, Terri Ward in District 5 and Joseph Perrello in District 7. The one new Democrat is Mark McCarthy in District 3. Holdovers from the last legislature are former chairman Scott Samuelson in District 1 and Ira Steingart in District 8, both Democrats and Republican Alan Sorensen in District 9.
