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A debate in Sullivan could cross borders

Anybody who thinks that electing a county executive will make it easier to govern Sullivan County needs to take a few things into consideration.

Start with the political suspicions. This might be coming up because some legislators want to get rid of the county manager. A debate on changing the form of government provides a distraction. This might be coming up because some legislators know that there's no way they can blame all of the county's troubles, tax hikes and financial shortfall on the manager. They could use somebody else to take the heat.

Then move on to the practical. No matter what the political motivations might be, a multimillion-dollar business such as a county, dealing with life-and-death decisions on services and a chaotic network of federal, state and local laws, regulations and responsibilities, needs good full-time management. The time might have come when a manager and a bunch of part-time legislators are not able to handle this.

Then move on to the examples. There is no need for legislators or residents of Sullivan County to make this decision based on theories or promises. Nearby counties have had executives for a few years or a few decades, and any discussion in Sullivan would be incomplete if legislators did not invite some testimony from their neighbors about the benefits and drawbacks of this form of government.

That's when this could get interesting and educational for those in and out of Sullivan.

Orange and Ulster counties both have county executives who have wanted to sell the county nursing home. Ed Diana and Mike Hein could appear before the Sullivan County Legislature and discuss why they made the choices they did, how it worked out and how they might have made changes if they could do it all over.

Both executives have articulate supporters and critics in their own legislatures. They also could come in and testify, answering questions about the strengths and weaknesses of their own charters and the balance of power.

Residents of Sullivan County could learn a lot in this process, as could their neighbors.

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