It hasn't been a pretty process, but it's nonetheless encouraging to see the makings of a state Senate moving toward a more democratic system of legislating next year.

After some intense negotiations that have been taking place essentially since Election Day, three dissident Democratic senators who had threatened to thwart a Democratic majority have agreed to back state Sen. Malcolm Smith as leader.

At the same time, some Smith loyalists are upset that the dissidents may be getting powerful positions within the Senate as a compromise.

But what's clear is that Smith or any other leaders next year won't carry the same kind of power that top leaders had under Republican control for so many years.

Plans for a shared leadership structure at the top will also open the process of lawmaking by giving more power to rank-and-file legislators. It will also give more of a voice to the minority party, which will be the Republican Party in 2009.

We agree with the criticisms of how the Democrats' leadership struggle is playing out. The negotiations and deals have made the Senate look more like a game of “Survivor,” with factions forming alliances and turning their backs on people once considered supporters.

But if the end result is a better-run Senate, we can live with the politics that it took to get there.

With all of that said, we view last week's developments with cautious optimism.

It's one thing to say the system has been opened up, but the real test comes in January when the new session starts.

And there's still a real concern about how the new Senate affects upstate New York, where Republican representation is more concentrated.

We urge the lone Democratic state lawmaker representing Cayuga County, Sen. David Valesky, to speak loud and clear on behalf of shared power and fair distribution of resources for all of upstate, not just the Democratically represented portions.