By Matt Youngfrau
MONTICELLO — December 7, 2001 – A new chapter for the Sullivan County Legislature began yesterday as two new legislators started their careers.
District 4 Legislator Joann MacKinnon of Bloomingburg was appointed at a special meeting, and District 9 Legislator Jim Carnell of Monticello spent his first day attending committee meetings.
MacKinnon is the widow of former District 4 Legislator Gordon MacKinnon, representing the bulk of the Town of Mamakating. MacKinnon died on October 9, and his seat has been vacant ever since. The Town of Mamakating Democratic Committee had chosen Jonathan Rouis over Joann to fill MacKinnon's seat. However, the Legislature voted 5-2-1 for MacKinnon.
(Leni Binder abstained, while Chris Cunningham and Kathy LaBuda voted against MacKinnon.)
Carnell won a special election in November to fill the remaining two years of former legislator Steven Kurlander's term, representing the bulk of the Town of Thompson. In the interim, the Legislature had appointed Sean Rieber. Carnell was sworn in as Legislator in a ceremony held on Wednesday. He has reduced his schedule as Town of Thompson Code Enforcement Officer to do his duties as Legislator.
Both MacKinnon and Carnell will fill in for their predecessors on the committees. The entire Legislature will be re-organized in January.
Please see Tuesday's issue of the Sullivan County Democrat for further coverage.