All politicians lie at one time or another.

"I'm so glad to be here tonight...Pleased to meet you...I'm glad you asked that."

Small pleasantries are the most forgivable untruths. They help one to get through the grind without initiating violence. Then there are more dangerous situations, where image and action do not mesh.

Public officials can lose their careers if their actual records are effectively shown to contradict their public images. Premeditated lying doesn't have to be involved. Politicians earn trust through clear, consistent messages that resonate with the public. Becoming something that you were supposed to prevent in the first place will lose that trust.

Even elected officials can be wrong. But if they're wrong, they need to at least appear to be sincere, well-intentioned and concerned.

Which leads us to the incredible case of County Executive Tom Gulotta.

After nearly a decade of on and off budgetary problems largely taken in stride by Nassau residents, the county has finally strained its credit past any logical limit. With a probable nine-figure hole in the 2000 budget, Mr. Gulotta's public posture has been one of denial and nonchalance. It's one thing to deny responsibility. It's another thing, this late in the game, to deny that there's any problem at all. It is this attitude, especially given the political earthquake of last November, that has convinced some Republicans that something has snapped inside this man. Literally. One G.O.P. operative told me recently that Gulotta was "considered missing and insane."

Well, it just can't be this bad.

Tom Gulotta is a very intelligent man, who has built a reservoir of goodwill through years of close contact with thousands of constituents. His computerized constituent tracking system offers some kind of response to nearly every inquiry. I've seen him work a room up close many times. The dramatic entrances, the personal connections. Some people almost swooning. You can't do what Tom Gulotta has done for years and be a phony about liking people. You can't have the career that he has had and be a dullard.

Then again, Mr. Gulotta may have lost interest in his job. He's been county executive longer than all but one man. He has twice been blocked from the statewide ticket. Over the next few weeks, as Nassau's situation is considered on Wall Street and State Street, we will see what Tom Gulotta has left.

In just the past week there have been some signs of recognition, of concern, of life from the county executive in this matter. Once aroused to action, Tom Gulotta may become the potent leader many have awaited but still have not seen.

At least two Republicans and six Democrats are in various stages of weighing campaigns against Gulotta. Don't count him out. Seven years ago, he was pounded mercilessly in certain media over budget issues and survived. He still has time to win back crowds and to make some people swoon.

But not very much time.

Michael Miller was formerly Director of Public Affairs for the Town of North Hempstead. He is a public relations consultant.