JAMESTOWN – The Chautauqua County Republican committee will endorse Jim Quattrone (R) for Sheriff at a meeting next week, he said.
Quattrone told WNYNewsNow on Thursday that he hopes the campaign, which will pit him against incumbent Sheriff Joe Gerace (D), his boss of many years, will not “get dirty.”
Quattrone said has been out in communities across the county listening to concerns that residents deem top priority.
“I’ve talked to a lot of people across both ends of the county and the biggest concerns that keep coming up are the continued fight against the drug epidemic and crime,” Quattrone said.
“When I say drug epidemic it’s not just one drug,” added Quattrone. “I mean all of the drugs; we really have to use all of our resources to fight this thing, and get people the help they need.”
Quattrone spent more than two decades as a law enforcement professional in Chautauqua County, recently retiring to focus on spending more time with his family and furthering his efforts to help the area’s homeless population.
Just before he announced his intention to run for sheriff, Quattrone stepped down as the Executive Director of the City’s Rescue Mission.
“I believe being employed with the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Office for 30 years will give me a little bit of an advantage over some of the past candidates,” Quattrone said.