I urge the Commission to waive the deadline and allow our association to negotiate on all issues with the County. Many of us have stayed with the County during lean years, and that loyalty should be rewarded. We are not asking for special treatment, but to negotiate the same terms as the other associations. There is no reason for negotiations to take on such adversarial tones, since many of us want to stay with the County, and the County has an interest in keeping experienced public attorneys.