LIVINGSTON COUNTY — After a historic Livingston County District Attorney election in 2012 the stage is set with the upcoming Livingston County Sheriff’s position which is up for election in Nov. of this year.
A press release (see text from announcement below) from the Sheriffs office announced that Sheriff John York will be retiring at the end of his term and not be seeking a 7th term. In the release, Sheriff York endorsed current Undersheriff James Szczeskiak.
Shortly after Sheriff York’s announcement Undersheriff Szczesniak announced his candidacy (see text from announcement below) and included his platform and reasons in which he intends to seek the title of Livingston County Sheriff. Undersheriff Szczesniak has worked in the department fo 28 years, he started as a part-time employee and worked his way through the ranks to the scond highest position in the county.
Quickly after Szczesniak made the announcement Investigator Thomas Dougherty, (see text from announcement below) who announced his campaign back in December, released a statement hoping for a clean campaign where he invited the Undersheriff to round table discussions and a possible debate .
Undersheriff Szczesniak and Investigator Dougherty will both be meeting in the Republican primary at a date yet to be determined. Before that both are asking the Livingston County Republican Committee for their endorsement that is decided by a weighted vote of Republican appointees. The Democrats have not yet announced whether or not they will produce a candidate.
STATEMENT FROM SHERIFF YORK
February 19, 2013 – Livingston County Sheriff John M. York has announced that he will not be seeking a seventh term for Livingston County Sheriff. His announcement comes today after a 44 year career with the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office with the last 24 years as Sheriff. Sheriff York states he has always taken tremendous pride in being able to hold such a high office of public integrity and is equally proud of being a member of this agency in the prior 20 years working his way up through the agency from a Deputy Sheriff when he was first appointed in January 1969.
Sheriff York commends the men and women of the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office for making Livingston County a safe and desirable please to live. He also commends the members of the Livingston County Board of Supervisors and County Administrator for their continuous support of the Sheriff’s Office and keeping our community safe.
Sheriff York also announced his support of his Undersheriff James M. Szczesniak, who has announced his candidacy, to fulfill Office of the Sheriff at Sheriff York’s retirement. Sheriff York intends to remain in office until the completion of his term at the end of this year.
Sheriff York states time stands still for no one and after 44 years on the job and at the age of 68 it is time to spend more quality time with his wife, Bridget, daughter, son and grandchildren.
STATEMENT FROM UNDERSHERIFF SZCZESNIAK
This year, the citizens of Livingston County will be electing the 50th Sheriff in their history.
Currently serving as Undersheriff since 2010, Jim is a 3rd generation lifelong resident of the Conesus Lake Community who brings a 28-year history of service at the Livingston County Sheriff’s office. Starting as a part-time corrections officer in 1985 and working at every level of deputy and command, Jim stands ready to meet the demands of leadership with experience, dedication, and integrity. Jim’s support includes that of retiring Sheriff John M. York.
Three fundamentals questions guide this candidacy.
What will be your primary focus as Sheriff?
People — As your Livingston County Sheriff, my primary focus will be protecting the safety of every citizen within our County. I will support victims of crime in their pursuit of justice, as well as serve as an ambassador to those who are visitors whether for business, pleasure or in pursuit of an education.
On a day-to-day basis, protecting everyone inside our County lines is our number one priority.
To do this, members of the Sheriff’s Office must be well trained, properly equipped, and emotionally capable to serve. As Sheriff, I will continue to seek-out and strive to assure that every member of the Sheriff’s Department has this support. During times of difficulty, I will always consider the well-being of every member of the Sheriff’s Department and their families.
Everyone is aware of the dangers our first responders face. They encounter the most dynamic of domestic (family) and criminal situations. Ensuring proper training, internal support, and a constant awareness of personnel and their conditions is a critical facet to leading the Sheriff’s Office, and one that can only come from having experienced all levels of the Department’s operations as I have done.
As Sheriff, what do you consider one of your greatest challenges?
Oversight — We will maintain the highest quality law enforcement in the wake of diminishing fiscal resources. I will deliver law enforcement services in an efficient and cost effective manner. I bring experience and continuity to this Office. As your Sheriff, I will be mindful of the bottom line on behalf of the taxpayers.
As an elected official, what other considerations will you have?
Service — I will create a positive first impression of our County and communities.
Many times, the first and perhaps only contact someone outside the community has is along the highway, or while experiencing a difficulty or crisis. That individual’s impression of their treatment by your Sheriff’s Office may result in their staying within the County for business or pleasure. A commitment to creating a positive first and lasting impression will be an important aspect to the Sheriff Office’s services and when we combine that with my commitment to maintaining our low crime record, we will also be serving you by acting as a part of the area’s economic engine.
Learn more about Jim Szczesniak and his candidacy for Livingston County Sheriff.
Please join Jim Szczesniak for Livingston County Sheriff as he brings experience, dedication, and integrity leading to success as your next Livingston County Sheriff.
Please visit: www.szczesniakforsheriff.com
E-mail: jim@szczesniakforsheriff.com
STATEMENT FROM INVESTIGATOR DOUGHERTY
I would like to welcome my colleague Jim Szczeniak to the race for the Republican nomination for Livingston County Sheriff.
This is the most important election that the voters of this county will have to decide in the foreseeable future, and it is important that the people have a choice when they cast their ballot. Without question, Jim’s entry in the race highlights the need for change and improvement that I have been talking about since I announced my candidacy on December 10, 2012.
We are entering a new era in Livingston County where technology and efficiency are the keys to moving our law enforcement efforts forward. The challenges facing law enforcement today are markedly different from the ones that the current administration has been dealing with since the 1980’s.
I believe that my combination of education, training, real world business success and street-level police experience have me uniquely positioned to lead the Sheriff’s Department now, and into the future. I firmly believe that people need to be led, not just managed. I promise to lead from the front, not just manage from above.
This election is not about the next man in line. It is about the candidate who has the skill-set to face the challenges presented by today’s social and fiscal problems. You can’t move forward if you have your eye on the rear-view mirror. I will bring a fresh and innovative set of ideas to usher in a positive change for Livingston County.
I look forward to a hard-fought and clean campaign. I would like to invite Jim to the table for some public debates on the state of the Sheriff’s Department as it is, and the best strategies for improvement in the future.
I encourage people to visit my website (www.doughertyforsheriff.com), check out my Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/DoughertyForSheriff) and follow me on Twitter (@TDougherty2013).