WATERTOWN, New York (WWNY) – Phil Reed will not be the next chair of the Jefferson County legislature.
Reed confirmed for 7 News Wednesday morning that he has withdrawn his name from consideration for the chairmanship. Reed was widely viewed as the likely successor to Scott Gray, the current chair.
Word of Reed’s decision first surfaced Wednesday morning in the blog of former Watertown mayor Jeff Graham.
Republicans, who have a majority on the legislature and can pick the chairman, are to meet in private later this week to make their pick. That decision will then be made official by the legislature at its January meeting.
Reed, a veteran of the county legislature, said he decided to withdraw after consulting with family and friends, and weighing their needs and the needs of his legislative district. He represents the towns of Alexandria and Orleans, and part of LeRay.
He is endorsing Bill Johnson, District 2 legislator, who represents Lyme and Brownville, for chair.
“Bill’s a good fit,” Reed said. “I’m gonna work hard with him.”
District 9 legislator Patrick Jareo, who represents Hounsfield, Henderson and Ellisburg, said he strongly backs Johnson.
“Bill is probably the least polarizing Republican we have on the board of legislators,” Jareo said. “He’s well respected.”
District 7 legislator John Peck, who represents Champion and part of Fort Drum, also backs Johnson.
“He’s been very level headed,” Peck said. “He has an intimate understanding of how the county works.”
Peck said he is running for vice-chair, and that Johnson had asked him to consider the job. Peck cited his experience on the board, and said he would be an effective assistant to the chair, as well as a go-between, between the board and the chair.
“I was supporting Phil, I was behind Phil, ” Johnson said Wednesday morning. “When Phil changed his mind, I decided, well, maybe it was time to throw my hat in.”
Johnson is a veteran legislator, and served on the legislature’s predecessor, the county board of supervisors.
“It’s a tough decision,” Johnson said. “It’s a big job, a complicated job.”
Reed said a flareup of tensions on the board – nine members of the board wanted to hold a special meeting this week to repeal the county’s mask requirement and consider censuring Gray – was not the reason for his decision.
Johnson said he believes the divisions on the board have been exaggerated.
“I don’t see it as a big divide, but I’m gonna go out there and talk to everybody,” he said.
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