MONTICELLO — The ballots are counted and the voters had their say. A new legislature will take office in January with an unprecedented Republican majority.

Chairman of the Sullivan County Republican Party, Dick Coombe, said he is pleased with the outcomes, and will be happy to see any of the seven Republican legislators or Democrat Nadia Rajsz (who was endorsed by their party) be named to the Chair seat.

“Whoever they decide on I'll be very supportive of,” Coombe told the Democrat. “I would like to see the county continue in an upward track like it has over the last four years with a Republican controlled legislature. The important thing is that they get together and choose a leader and move on in the same direction as we have before.”

It is expected that the legislators will be sworn in on January 2, and voting for Chair, Vice Chair and County Attorney could happen at that time.

Despite an inaccurate social media post that circulated, County Attorney Cheryl McCausland is not retiring. She notified the legislature in October that she would not seek another term for personal reasons, but will continue to be a part of county government.

“I've been here 20 years and the past four years have been especially meaningful and rewarding,” McCausland told the Democrat. “This legislature has been extraordinary to work for and work with. Their commitment to the residents of the county has been apparent and consistent throughout their term.”

So who will be the next Chairman of the Legislature?

Current Chairman of the Legislature, Luis Alvarez, is vying for the position again. He says he wants to build on what he has already done.

“I have the experience and knowledge,” Alvarez said. “I've put my heart and soul [into it] and got a lot accomplished.”

He noted that he was the first Chairman to attend meetings of all the towns and villages in the county, and will continue to do so if elected.

Two others are looking to be named chair. They include freshman legislator Rob Doherty (District 1) and incumbent legislator Joe Perrello (District 7).

Longtime legislator and current Majority Leader Alan Sorensen (District 9) said he would consider the Chairmanship, but is not actively seeking it.

When asked if she was interested in seeking the position, current Vice Chair, Nadia Rajsz, declined to comment.

The legislature will see four new faces who are all Republican: Doherty (District 1), Michael Brooks (District 3), Nicholas Salomone (District 4) and George Conklin (District 5).

Rajsz and incumbent legislator Ira Steingart will be the only Democrats.

Big changes could be coming, as all of the newly elected legislators, as well as incumbents Rajsz and Alvarez, have publicly opposed the proposed visitors center in Rock Hill. And several newcomers have stated that they want more oversight on organizations such as the Sullivan Catskills Visitors Association and the County of Sullivan Industrial Development Agency.

Doherty, who runs a farm-to-table delivery business and Carmine's Meat Market in Monticello, wants to bring a fresh voice to the legislature.

“I think there needs to be more transparency, and I think the government needs to take a different direction,” Doherty said. “Currently I don't think that everyone has Sullivan County's best interests at heart.”

Two of the current legislators, Perrello and Sorensen, both voted in favor of the visitors center.

Perrello said he threw his hat in the ring for Chairman because he already has knowledge of how county government works.

“Now that I've been there four years I know the fundamentals and the structure of the county, and I can be an asset,” Perrello said. “I'm a no-nonsense kind of guy, and a business owner for over 35 years in Sullivan County. I have the time to do this job.”

Alvarez said whoever is elected to the position needs to be prepared for it.

“It's a full-time job,” Alvarez said. “[That] is my main concern, whoever is the chair has to remember it's a full-time job.”