New Year, New Issues for Local Leaders

1/2/2013 (Updated 6:54:47 PM)

(Source: Fox 40 Staff)

This New Year's swearing-in for Broome County Executive Debbie Preston was far different than her first last year.

"I knew it was only going to be fore a year. Now it's a full four-year term so I can really concentrate on the business of Broome County," said Preston.

Preston points to breaking ground for BU's Downtown incubator, bringing water and sewer lines to undeveloped land near the airport, and awaiting fracking regulations from Albany as agenda items for 2013.

"I was campaigning for two years in a row. I won't have to do that. So now we just focus on what's right for Broome County, dig in, and roll up our sleeves," said Preston.

She'll be aided by having a 10-5 Republican majority in the County Legislature. But, Democrats pledge to be an active minority.

"We've got a lot of experience so I think we'll be able to make an impact even though there's only five of us," said Broome County Legislative Minority Leader Dan D. Reynolds.

In the Town of Union Rose Sotak was sworn in as the town's first female Supervisor.

"It was a recovery year. We are still going to be recovering from the flood. We are also looking at business growth within the Town of Union. It is going to be a very strong focus this year," said Sotak.

In Johnson City, Greg Deemie was sworn in as Mayor, with the possibility of more mutual aid agreements between the village and City of Binghamton possible.

"The budget we haven't started yet. Probably in the next month or so we'll start working on that. The Fire Chief has been in place. We're working with Binghamton to try to get an IMA (Interstate Mutual Aid) in place. So we're still in discussion on that," said Deemie.

And with far fewer elections scheduled for 2013 than 2012, the political climate should be much different.

"We'll get along better, hopefully now that the elections have passed," said Reynolds.

****In Broome County, Jason Weinstein, Fox 40 HD News****

VIEW VIDEO