by Doug La Rocque
With no one nominated to run for the office on the Democratic line, the winner of the Republican primary will have the inside track to replacing three term Sheriff Jack Mahar.
[private]Undersheriff Pat Russo is seeking the party line along with Scott Ryan, who retired from the Sheriff’s Office in 2013. Mahar decided earlier this year not to seek another term, choosing instead to enjoy his retirement.
Russo has been the Undersheriff for all of Mahar’s years in office. Prior to that he served 28 years in the Troy Police Department, including a stint as head of the Narcotics Bureau. Russo’s campaign literature claims he has helped modernize and expand services at the Sheriff’s Department, including training deputies to be emergency medical technicians.
Ryan’s platform said that if elected he would take the department in a new direction, promote honesty, integrity and professionalism. The candidate promises fiscal responsibility, a focus on heroin use and support of the Second Amendment.
The Sheriff’s primary is the only race on the ballot in Hoosick, Petersburgh, Grafton, Berlin and Stephentown. The primary is Thursday September 10. Polls are open from noon till 9 pm.[/private]