By Doug La Rocque
Rensselaer County Undersheriff Patrick Russo was the easy winner in the primary contest for the Republican line for County Sheriff. Russo turned back the challenge of former Sheriff’s Department employee Scott Ryan, garnering nearly 65 percent of the vote county wide. According to the Board of Elections, the breakdown per town was pretty much along the same line.
[private]Russo’s victory means that he will take the oath of office as Sheriff on January 1, 2016. The county Democratic Party did not field a candidate for the office in the general election in November, and Russo already has the Conservative, Independence and Reform Party lines. Ryan has pledged not to mount a write in campaign.
Russo has been the Undersheriff for 12 years. Prior to that he served in the Troy Police Department, including time as head of the narcotics bureau. Russo will replace Sheriff Jack Mahar, who is retiring after three terms.[/private]