A little over 48 hours into the job, Acting County Executive Vinnyvxx says he is still trying to keep his head down and the county running. In an exclusive interview with The Harrison Independent, he discussed questions left open by his September 29th inaugural memo: how the transition unfolded, where he stands on the recalls that brought him into office, how he will handle the politics of a campaign he is not running in, and what he hopes residents will look for in a successor.
A Transition He Half-Expected
Vinnyvxx said he was not blindsided by the possibility of becoming Acting County Executive, even if the reality still caught him off guard. “A friend had actually approached me beforehand and said there was a chance it could happen, and at first I was pretty confused by the whole situation,” he said. “I wasn’t sure if Bob would actually be recalled, but seeing the community’s reaction and everything going on, I definitely had a feeling it was possible.”
As President pro tempore of the County Council, Vinnyvxx knew the mechanics of succession would place him in the role if the recall passed. He described his reaction as “excited/worried/surprised all at once.” Knowing the new position would prevent him from introducing legislation directly, he used his final Council session to advance several measures.
“I kind of grinded out five different pieces of legislation” before stepping into the Acting County Executive role.
His legislative work is not over, he said, but it will take a different form: “That does not mean I’m going to stop writing legislation — just another member of the council will have to sponsor them for me now.”
What’s Already on His Desk
Vinnyvxx said judicial vacancies are among the issues he plans to address, including by contacting judicial leadership and the Independent Commission on the Judiciary. He also pointed to foreign-relations matters already being handled by the Executive Office, and said he had met with Sheriff’s Office leadership about legislation it would like to see, as well as the directors of the Parks and Wildlife Department and the Transportation Authority.
“I definitely have not gotten around to every department yet, but I intend to,” he said.
On the Recalls: “Ultimately That Is the Will of the People”
Asked whether he thought the recalls of bob_govv and former District Attorney FrancisHUnderwood were justified, Vinnyvxx said he did not vote in either election. “This is probably one of the harder questions for me to answer,” he said.
Rather than offer a personal verdict, he framed his view around the process. “If the people genuinely lose confidence in their leadership and go through the lawful recall process to replace that leadership, then ultimately that is the will of the people,” he said.
He distinguished between the allegations that drove bob_govv’s recall. The ongoing criminal case involving an alleged shooting during a Council session was, in his view, “by far the most troubling allegation and the one that held the most weight.” Other arguments, he said, were “much weaker.” The case remains an allegation; Vinnyvxx was describing his own assessment of its significance in the recall debate.
On whether policy disagreements alone should trigger a recall — an argument Underwood made in his own defense — Vinnyvxx said officials should not be removed simply because some residents dislike a few decisions. “Recalls shouldn’t happen willy-nilly,” he said. But he added that when an official takes major actions clearly opposed by the community, or does something “particularly egregious,” voters have the right to decide whether to remove them through the recall process.
On Staying Neutral — Without Staying Silent
With a special-election campaign expected to unfold under his watch, Vinnyvxx said his first priority is to keep doing the job of Acting County Executive regardless of who runs. He did not, however, promise to stay personally silent. He said elected officials retain freedom of speech and should generally be able to express personal views, noting that he has previously opposed Electoral Commission rules he considered too restrictive of political speech.
He drew a line between personal speech and government resources or authority being used to campaign. “There is an important difference between elected officials and non-elected government employees using their official positions while on duty to endorse a candidate,” he said. “The actual operations of government shouldn’t be turned into a campaign apparatus for anybody.”
On His Successor: “Answer People’s DMs”
Asked what he hopes for in the next County Executive, Vinnyvxx emphasized temperament and accessibility alongside knowledge of county law. He wants someone willing to take an unpopular stand when a person’s rights are being violated or something genuinely wrong is happening, rather than avoiding the issue for political reasons.
He also urged the next executive to remain accessible. “Talk to your constituents. Answer people’s DMs. Listen when somebody comes to you with a suggestion or a problem. You’re not suddenly above everybody because you hold an elected office.” He added that a successor should understand county law and the Charter, while avoiding nepotism and unnecessary drama.
Two Recalls at Once: Engagement With a Caution
Vinnyvxx described the two recalls in quick succession as evidence that residents are engaged and have lawful ways to hold government accountable. At the same time, he warned against making recall a routine political tool. Government, he said, needs some stability to accomplish its work, and officials should not be removed over every slight disagreement.
Closing the Loop
Asked if he had anything else for residents, Vinnyvxx returned to the caretaker role he says will define his tenure. “I know I stepped into this role under unusual circumstances, and I wasn’t elected to be County Executive,” he said. “I’m not trying to come in and make a bunch of drastic changes. I just want to keep the County running until the next County Executive takes office.”
The Harrison Independent will continue to follow Vinnyvxx’s tenure as Acting County Executive and the special-election race.