It's always good to see sportsmanship exercised in public life, something we see far too little of, especially during political campaigns. So we salute Judy Jacobs, Democratic majority leader of the Nassau County Legislature, for resolving what could have been a nasty squabble. On Monday night, Feb. 28, at 11 p.m., after a long day, the Nassau County Legislature inadvertently gave control of the Nassau Off-Track Betting Corporation to the Democrats. The vote appointed two Democrats to the three-member OTB board, thereby giving Democrats access to a number of patronage jobs currently held by Republicans. Before the meeting both parties had agreed that the OTB measure would be removed from the agenda, but somehow it was included and an 18-0 vote approving it was recorded. Some Democrats argue that the vote is valid and binding while the Republicans argue that the vote is invalid because of the earlier agreement to hold it off. Rather than get into a cat-and-dog fight about it, Majority Leader Jacobs said: "I want everyone to understand that I am a person of my word and I will not allow to let stand a vote that I feel was based on something the legislature did not realize was taking place." She said she wants lawyers to determine whether the vote was legal, but even if it is found to be legal, she will move for another vote. The day she was inducted into office, Mrs. Jacobs said that Nassau's problems could only be solved if the parties cooperated. In this action she is demonstrating her good faith.

- EFB