ELIZABETHTOWN -- A legislative update Monday brought a little insight from Albany to Essex County.

Assemblywoman Teresa Sayward (R-Willsboro) addressed supervisors at the full board session Monday and described the ongoing political shift in Gov. Eliot Spitzer's charge.

"We were in a learning curve all year," Sayward said, noting "record-setting spending" in the state's $220 billion budget.

"I'm still getting used to saying that word billion.'"

The final budget proposal was placed on legislators' desks four hours before the vote, Sayward said.

That didn't leave enough time to glean many details from the spending plan.

"So I voted against the entire budget," Sayward said.

She is one of three Republicans, all women, who represent the North Country in Albany.

Along with Sen. Betty Little (R-Queensbury) and Assemblywoman Janet Duprey (R-Plattsburgh), the envoy has become known as the North Country "trifecta," Sayward said.

APA CHAIRMAN

A number of key Adirondack issues remain undecided, including who will become chairman of the Adirondack Park Agency.

Sayward confirmed Monday that Spitzer has decided not to appoint Richard Booth, a professor of land-use planning at Cornell University, to the post.

The nomination, made in late April, raised concern among Adirondack lawmakers and several local interest groups because Booth lives and works in Ithaca, which is outside the Adirondack Park.

There has been only one interim APA chairman, James Townsend, who did not reside in the park.

"Ms. (Judith) Enck (deputy secretary for the environment) brought Mr. Booth to my office, and, don't misunderstand, I think he is an excellent choice for commissioner," Sayward said.