Sheriffs candidates gather support
By ROB PRICE THE COURIER-ADVOCATE

BATH .. The two candidates for Steuben County sheriff picked up major endorsements in recent weeks.

Republican candidate Joel Ordway, who won the September Republican primary by a narrow vote, recently received the official endorsement of the Steuben County Republican Committee. "Joel won the primary and, in turn, he has earned and will receive the full backing and resources of the Steuben County Republican Committee in the upcoming general election," committee Chairman Bill Hatch announced.

Earlier, Ordway was endorsed by former congressman Amory Houghton.

Last week, Ordway's opponent, Steuben County Undersheriff David Cole, received the endorsement of the New York State Association of Chiefs of Police. The organization is a statewide nonprofit group of police chiefs, commissioners, superintendents, executives, and administrators.

Bath police Chief David Rouse serves as the zone eight representative, which comprises Delaware, Tompkins, Broome, Chenango, cortland, Allegany, Tioga, Otsego, Chemung, Schuyler and Steuben counties.

Rouse said the association's endorsement of Cole is the first time it has officially backed a candidate for Steuben County sheriff. In the past ten years, Rouse said, it has endorsed only two sheriff 's candidates, one in Orange county, the other in Warren County.

Board members of the association, Rouse said, "argue all the time. When you get them to concur on something, that's pretty significant."

In endorsing Cole, the association praised his experience as a law enforcement administrator.

"The New York State Association of Chiefs of Police recognizes that it is extremely important for a sheriff to work cooperatively with all levels of law enforcement as well as a variety of other agencies. Dave Cole has demonstrated through his career that he will do just that," stated a letter by John Grebert, executive director of the The New York State Association of Chiefs of Police Inc.