Tweddell ready for another campaign
By ROB MONTANA HORNELL EVENING TRIBUNE

Tweddell

BATH - Steuben County Sheriff Richard Tweddell said he's planning to seek another term in that capacity, but isn't 100 percent committed to that decision yet.

"I'll decide that later," he said this morning when contacted by telephone.

What might make Tweddell consider giving up the post? Involvement in the election by members of his staff.

"There might be someone from in my department that might want to sit down and talk with me about running," he said. "There might be someone that isn't comfortable about running against me, because they would not be sure about what it would mean if they didn't win.

"If they're qualified in running the department at the pace it is, I might consider stepping down," Tweddell added. "I'm 65 years old and I've been in law enforcement for 43 years."

Tweddell was appointed Steuben County sheriff in 1999, filling the remainder of then-Sheriff Walt DeLap's term. He won election in an unopposed race in 2000, and won a Republican primary over former Deputy Wayne Cavalier - 6,110-4,067 - in 2004.

Prior to joining the sheriff's department in 1997, Tweddell spent 32 years with the New York state police.

"It's a great job, I love it," Tweddell said of being sheriff, adding there should be no concerns about him running only to resign once into his new term.

"There's no way I would consider running without the obligation of filling the entire term, unless something health wise or something like that came up," he added. "Right now, I'm healthy, but you don't know what's going to happen over the next five years, because it would be five years before the end of the next term would be up."

While Tweddell seems to be in, one person has definitely entered the chase for sheriff - Jim Waight of Bath. The 60- year-old Steuben County native and former Maryland state trooper made his intentions known at a Wednesday press conference at the Bath Country Club, setting the stage for a September primary with Tweddell.

Undersheriff Dave Cole could not be reached for comment by press time, but Chief Deputy Joel Ordway, said he has thought about running for sheriff - but only if Tweddell doesn't.

"I'm definitely interested, but as far as committing, the timing wouldn't be proper," he said, "and the sheriff has to make up his mind.

"If the sheriff is running, I definitely wouldn't run against him," Ordway added.

The chief deputy, who is 45 years old, has been a member of the sheriff's department for 24 years, and also worked part-time for the Canisteo Police Department while undertaking his fulltime county job.

"I've been here 24 years, and it's (the sheriff's job) something you aspire to," Ordway said, "but he's (Tweddell) the one that appointed me chief deputy, him and Sheriff DeLap, 10 years ago, and loyalty counts."