The Citizen

It's deja vu on the sixth floor of the Cayuga County Office Building as Peter Tortorici is challenging Roger Mills for his seat as chairman of the Legislature in 2009.

Tortorici, R-Auburn, said he made the final decision to run after some legislators approached him about it. He has vied for the seat for the past two years.

“I had a lot of support last year,” he said. “I want to have more communication and more discussion and try to make government more open.”

While he declined to discuss specific issues he would tackle, Tortorici believes he is qualified to fill the chairman role.

“We have a lot of tough times ahead of us right now and I think with a little more communication and teamwork and discussion, I think I have the ability to bring people together and get us through these tough times, ” he said.

After making his push for the $30,000 seat last year, Tortorici was chosen for the vice chairman's seat.

Mills, R-Owasco, believes he has performed well during his first 12 months in office. “I think we're certainly accomplishing a lot of things that have been neglected in the past,” he said.

Mills pointed to progress with the 911 communications center and the mental health facility, as well as forging a better relationship with the city of Auburn. Mills also said hiring an interim director of mental health and community services was a major improvement.

“We've made significant progress in the last year and I was able to guide that through the Legislature as the chairman,” Mills said. “I think I have a track record, that's one thing I'm running on. ... Last year at this time, I was new to the Legislature and new to the chairmanship and obviously, over the last 12 months, I've tried to represent the Legislature to the best of my ability and I think I've done so.”

If he is appointed by the Legislature for another term, Mills said his biggest priority would be the looming state cuts.

“The top thing will be to see what kind of cuts the state imposes upon us and how we're going to react to them,” he said.

Both Mills and Tortorici will have a chance to make a case for themselves at the Republican caucus this Saturday. Republican majority leader Michael Chapman, R-Cato, declined to say whom he would be supporting.

“This is a situation where we let the caucus work it out,” he said, adding that the caucus would be closed to the public.

There will be 11 Republicans serving on the 15-member Legislature in 2009. The full Legislature votes on the chairman's seat in early January.