Cunningham Plans Not to Run for
Re-election

By Dan Hust
MONTICELLO — March 16, 2007 — The County Legislature’s leader, Democrat Chris Cunningham, plans to end a 12-year tenure as District 1 Legislator this December.
Cunningham announced this week that he will serve out his term but will not be running for re-election, giving up both his legislative seat and his three-year chairmanship.
“I’m not ruling out that I may aspire to future office,” he said yesterday, but a host of personal and business opportunities await him, and Cunningham said he’s ready to check them out.
He’s also a proponent of change and feels that the Legislature itself needs it from time to time.
“It’s time for some new ideas and new people,” he explained.
The Marist College adjunct professor plans to stay busy, but he did admit he’ll miss the camaraderie of fellow legislators and county employees.
“I’m proud my colleagues put their faith in me to lead the board,” he said. “We worked together to improve the quality of life in Sullivan County.”
He’s also glad he was given an opportunity to serve.
“I would like to thank my constituents for their support over the years,” he said. “I would also like to thank my family, my wife Renee, my daughter Erin and my son Daniel, as well as my mother and all of my family, for their support and for the sacrifices they have made so that I could spend my time working for the people of Sullivan County.”
Sullivan County Democratic Party Chair Tim Hill said he’s been talking with potential candidates for the District 1 seat, which encompasses all of the towns of Bethel, Cochecton and Tusten and the eastern half of the Town of Delaware.
In the meantime, he wishes Cunningham well.
“He’s put in a good number of years,” Hill said. “… Wherever he goes, I’m sure he’s going to be an asset.”