Diana gone, tight race opens up

GOSHEN – The sudden announcement Tuesday of Edward Diana’s plans to retire transformed this year’s race for the county executive, and the three candidates running knew it.

Town of Chester Supervisor Steve Neuhaus, Town of Warwick Supervisor Michael Sweeton and Legislator Roxanne Donnery of Highland Mills all attended Diana’s address.

All three wished the county executive well, both in retirement and in recovery from the liver disease that weighed heavily on his decision not to seek office for a fourth term.

But Diana avoided mention of recent conflicts and controversies that has led all three candidates to criticize the performance of the man in the county executive’s seat.

An endorsement magnet
At an event kicking off his campaign for county executive in November, Neuhaus cast blame on Diana and his administration for mishandling of the county-run nursing home, bungling the redevelopment of the county government center and for shunning openness for opacity.

"The county government center is closed, the nursing home is up in the air," said Neuhaus. If elected, he said, "the people of Orange County will never again be embarrassed that a political boss behind the scenes is making the deals."

He added that Diana showed his disconnection from the people "by the insanity of proposing a Taj Mahal to replace the current government center."

Since his announcement as a candidate, Neuhaus has won endorsements from a raft of Republican committees and conservative groups (see sidebar), many of which previously endorsed Diana.

Reacting to Diana’s decision to bow out of the race, Neuhaus struck a less defiant tone.

“I think today is all about wishing the county exec the best going forward,” he said. “I think fewer Republicans running for the same spot is always going to be better, because we’re not fighting against each other. Less in-fighting is always better.”

The conservative professional
Sweeton, the Warwick supervisor, congratulated Diana and offered his own points of departure, too.

“I think today the county executive got the acknowledgement of the achievement he’s made in county government,” Sweeton said “He’s left the county up to this point in decent financial shape, and he kept taxes in check. He’s actually improved quality of life in the county, so he deserves to be recognized. I wish him the best upon his retirement for him and his family. I hope his health improves.

With so many endorsers already locked onto Neuhaus, Sweeton was quick to differentiate himself from leaders who court the favor of party loyalists and powerful interests.

“Look, I’m not naïve enough to think that politics isn’t a factor. But I think that one of the issues that I have disagreed with the county executive on is over building these political alliances and then having those effect the decisions that you make,” Sweeton said. “I think clearly, of the candidates, I am the one without those ties and will not have those influences on me as county executive.”

Fighting the incumbent party
Democratic Legislator Roxanne Donnery also offered equal helpings of praise and disappointment with respect to Diana.

“It was a very emotional day for me. I have worked with Eddie a long time. I thank him for his service. I wish him well. I hope that he returns to full health,” she said. “I hope he has a lot of years in retirement. Somehow, I don’t think he’ll stay there, just knowing who he is.”

In a county where Republican leaders have held power across many layers of government, Donnery said that the GOP has grown deaf, dysfunctional and deserving of ouster.

“Nothing changes for me in the race. I am running against the status quo,” she said. “I am running against same-party rule for too many years. I am running to stop dysfunction, to rebuild trust."

She said that Diana’s problems began because he was forced to follow an agenda that the Republican caucus could not fulfill.

“I know that Republican caucuses have been built to work to fulfill the county executive’s agenda,” she said. “The lock step relationship is where he got into trouble and it needs to stop. Everybody needs to get back to doing the people’s work.”