Bob McCarthy, philosopher-king of Sidney

It's common knowledge around town that Sidney's town supervisor, Bob McCarthy, doesn't care if he gets re-elected. Indeed, one of his first acts as supervisor -- an especially plum job in Delaware County, in which the supervisors rule local government at both the town and county level -- was to vote against all his fellow supervisors in the January election to fill county leadership slots:

McCarthy was the only vote against [Harpersfield supervisor James] Eisel.

...McCarthy also voted against Bill Moon's reappointment as commissioner of social services for a five-year term.

After the meeting, McCarthy said he had not spoken to Donnelly before nominating him and said he offered the nomination "just to be a pain."

McCarthy said he did not support Moon because, "I hate the welfare system, and half of (the recipients) are in my town."

He added: "I am just basically here to break up what's happening -- the same regime. I can do anything I want because I am never running for office again."

He's not kidding. At the county meeting last Thursday, Sidney's own Diogenes made a truly shocking admission: The man does not know what the Delaware County Fair is. (Imagine Mike Bloomberg saying, "Derek Jeter who?")

As supervisors around the table continued to interject memories and platitudes about the fair, Davenport Supervisor Dennis Valente brought the discussion to an end when he said with a laugh, "Bob, I think that is the bravest comment I have ever heard a supervisor make."

McCarthy laughed before adding, "Well, I own a plot in the Walton Cemetery, but I have never been there either!"

Dawn Rivers Baker, the Democratic candidate McCarthy bested in the November elections, claims that behind all the wildly entertaining bluster, McCarthy is taking a few liberties with the town budget.

I’ve been asked more than once if I’m going to run for Supervisor again in 2013. It’s still a bit early for me to make that decision but, if McCarthy keeps this stuff up, I think I’m going to have to.