Nine months before election, and the rhetoric rumbling through the sixth floor of the county office building is already starting.

This week, a number of legislators publicly announced that they would be seeking re-election to the Cayuga County Legislature. Some of them announced their mission for the next term is to see that the county government hire a professional to oversee the budget and operations.

Yet, these are the same legislators who have not taken any initiative to push this issue forward in their current term, nor previous terms in office.

Changing county government may become the "reform" mantra of last fall's state elections; a popular buzzword for campaigning officials to throw around on the stump, but a hollow promise once in chambers.

It especially rings off-key for legislator William Catto, who announced his decision to run for re-election last week, saying he wanted to see a change in county governance during his next term.

But Catto was co-chairman of the Government Operations Committee last year, which was put in charge of researching a more efficient, effective alternative to the county's current form of governance. And his committee failed to produce any resolution or alternatives for governance.

And this year, Catto has stepped down from co-chairing that committee, in order to take over as Democratic minority party leader in the Legislature.

If Catto is so passionate about reforming county government, why would he leave the co-chair position that has the most potential to effect that change?

This is the same legislator who convinced many on the sixth floor that he would only hold the seat for one term when he was first elected in 2001.

But now Catto has decided to run for re-election.

We're not sure what to believe from this Auburn Democrat.