Email to the Editor: LCDSA president speaks out about endorsement

THIS EMAIL TO THE EDITOR WAS SUBMITTED BY LONNI CARROL ON BEHALF OF MARVIN YAMONACO JR, THE PRESIDENT OF THE LIVINGSTON COUNTY DEPUTY SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION

Dear Editor,

My name is Marvin Yamonaco, Jr.  I write to you today as the President of the Livingston County Deputy Sheriff’s Association (LCDSA) and as a member of the LCDSA for over 13 years.  I am writing to clarify a portion of a recent letter posted on your website on August 20, 2013 from Major Ronald Huff Jr. of the Livingston County Jail.

In said letter, the writer states, “In a controversial three way vote, pushed by Dougherty supporters, Dougherty won with 33 voting for him and suspect 32 voting for Szczesniak or not to endorse at all.”  I will attempt to clarify and simply correct the inaccurate information contained in just that one line.

On March 7, 2013 while seeking the LCDSA endorsement, the LCDSA general membership heard from both candidates vying for the Sheriff of Livingston County position.  At a morning and an afternoon session, both candidates presented their ideas and intentions for the Sheriff’s office if they were to be elected Sheriff.  Both also entertained a question and answer period.  On March 21, 2013 a vote of our general membership was held to either support Thomas Dougherty, support James Szczesniak or to remain neutral.  At the end of a full day of voting, six (6) members of the union (including myself) tallied the votes.  The correct and final numbers are as follows:  31 to support Dougherty, 28 to remain neutral and 2 to support Szczesniak.  Nothing “suspect” about any of those numbers.  In the end, the majority of the membership had chosen to endorse Thomas Dougherty in his bid for Sheriff.

I cannot fully address the portion of Mr. Huff’s statement that it was a “controversial three way vote” because I am not sure what he means by that.  All members were given ample notice of date, time & location of the vote and there were no restrictions placed on our members.  I also do not understand the portion of his statement that states, “pushed by Dougherty supporters”.  This was a general membership vote that was open to any and all members regardless as to their backing beliefs.

Should Thomas Dougherty be proud of the LCDSA endorsement?  Absolutely!  The Livingston County Deputy Sheriff’s Association was founded over 60 years ago by the great men and women that served and dedicated their lives to the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office and the people of Livingston County-just as Thomas Dougherty has and will continue to do.

Respectfully,

Marvin Yamonaco, Jr. President
Livingston County Deputy Sheriff’s Association
MYJ/ljc