Donald Currie cast the swing vote last night, ending Lawrence County’s Government Study Commission.

A security guard at the Youth Development Center, Currie said he ran for election to the 11-member panel last fall because he favored a change in the form of county government. However, over the past six months, he said, his opinion changed.

“I talked to a lot of people, at church, on the East Side, the West Side, and all I got was negativity.”

He added he has seen no protests from people with banners demanding change in county government.

Currie explained his attendance at just six of the past 18 meetings was because of his work schedule.

“I’m new on the block and when they say to be here, there’s not a choice,” he said of the YDC.

“I understood the importance of being (at the commission meetings) and I took days off, but there’s only so much I can take off on a personal basis,” he said.

“I was elected by the people to do a job but I have to consider my livelihood first and the outcome for my family.”

When Richard Audino moved that the commission discontinue the study of different forms of county government, Joe Cicero, the panel’s secretary/treasurer, had a question for the solicitor.

“Can we vote to (discontinue) or are we required to make a recommendation?”

Solicitor Charles Mansell replied, “This commission is not required to make any recommendation.”

The vote was 6-5 to disband. In addition to Audino and Currie, John DeSanti, Dwayne Evans, Brad Olson and Mark Panella voted to end the study. In opposition were Cicero, Charles Bell, Loretta Hogans, David Kennaday and John Russo.

Cicero, who had devoted time to adapting for Lawrence County a proposed Lancaster County home rule charter with an elected council/appointed manager plan, said he is disappointed and “sorry for the county.

“I don’t know what we’d have come up with, but now we’ll never know,” Cicero said.

“It’s families who’ve lost,” he added. “Children will continue to leave here. The future is not as bright.”