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Keep Gerace as sheriff

Joe Gerace and Jim Quattrone bring impressive credentials to their race for Chautauqua County sheriff.

Quattrone, endorsed by the Republican and Conservative parties, is a graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va., has a master’s degree in administration of justice from Mercyhurst College in Erie, a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the Rochester Institute of Technology and spent 30 years with the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Department. His list of training and certifications is too long to list.

Gerace, endorsed by the Democratic, Independence and Working Families parties, has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Mercyhurst College, a master’s degree in community service administration from Alfred University as well as boasting a list of training and certifications too long to list.

Both men are qualified and upstanding members of our community with a laundry list of memberships to civic organizations and volunteer activity. Both candidates have served the public admirably, both professionally and when they have taken off the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Department uniform.

The deciding factor, in our view, is the experience Gerace brings to the job. Some parts of Quattrone’s platform look wonderful on paper, but Quattrone struggled when pressed for specifics in a debate between the two candidates at The Post-Journal. For example, Quattrone says he would properly evaluate spending within the Sheriff’s Department. When asked where he would cut spending, Quattrone pointed to forced overtime, something he says is expensive and dangerous to fatigued corrections officers — but couldn’t articulate a plan whereby he would be able to fill the shifts necessary while decreasing costs.

One of the strongest arguments Quattrone can make for his candidacy is his 30 years of experience in the Sheriff’s Department. Unfortunately for the challenger, Gerace has 39 years of experience that comes with successful handling of capital crime cases and the creation of programs that help county residents each and every day. Thus, with candidates being this close in many attributes, we lean to Gerace, who will have the best position with his existing knowledge of the office and labor relation to make positive impacts in the future.

Gerace has earned another four years as Chautauqua County’s sheriff.

Agree or disagree?

Readers can offer their views on the upcoming election. The final day the OBSERVER accepts letters regarding the election is Nov. 1. Send in your comments to jdagostino@observertoday.com

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