Preston delivers State of the County Address

2/14/2013 (Updated 2/15/2013 9:44:04 AM)

(Source: Jeremy Donovan)

BINGHAMTON -- "This white rose is a symbol of the work we can do together and all that we can accomplish as a team.  Some may think this is funny, I think this is serious.  We owe this to the people of Broome County," said Debbie Preston, (R) Broome County Executive.

A single white rose on Valentine's Day, given to each of the county legislators as a peace offering to strive for bipartisanship to solve the biggest problems in Broome County.

"I think we're working well with the executive, as in proof of case with last year," said Jerry Marinich (R- 10th District), Chairman.

"At the end she gave everyone a rose, which was funny.
The thought being that we should work together and I'm all for that," said Daniel D. Reynolds (D - District 4) , Minority Leader. 

"We can all work really well together.  She does have a great open door policy and I look forward to having more open lines of communication with her," said Colleen McCabe, (D-11th District). 

Four hundred ten days after entering the office, Preston still has a lot on her agenda especially regarding job creation, fracking, and welfare fraud. 

"I pledge to you today, that Broome County will become the toughest county in New York State on welfare fraud," said Preston 

But on other hot button issues like natural gas drilling, some legislators would have liked to have heard more, especially regarding the new Office of Energy Development.. 

"That's been created already, without legislative approval which I don't think is proper.  And I'm not in favor of the creation of this office anyhow, at the very least it's an expansion of government and a redundancy," Reynolds said. 

"We have to wait and see what the regulations are going to be from the state, and once we get those and are able to review them, with our attorneys, with our health department, and all entities involved, then I think that will give us a better position to look at it," Marinich said.

Also big on Preston's "Blueprint for Broome County:" job creation.
To accomplish that she plans to break ground on the Binghamton University Downtown Incubator this spring.  As well as developing an industrial park in the airport corridor. 

Marinich says it's an ambitious agenda, but not impossible.

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