Organisciak reflects on sheriff’s race that he says turned into popularity contest

Editor:

First, I would like to thank the Orleans County Democratic Committee for endorsing me to represent them in the sheriff’s race. Also, thank you to my family, friends, supporters and those who voted for me.

We knew going into this election would be tough as Orleans County is 2 to 1 in favor of the Republicans. When I entered this election all I wanted was to give the citizens of Orleans County a choice in the sheriff’s election but also to have a Democratic candidate on the ballot. I felt with my 30 years in law enforcement I could be a true contender.

The first real test was in the Fourth of July Parade in Lyndonville. I along with my supporters thought we had entered a t-shirt contest and what candidate could put the most t-shirts on their supporters – we LOST this competition.

After this it was how many signs could be put in peoples’ yards. Some even put on private property and some supporters putting up these signs were being chased off of people’s property! We didn’t win this competition either.

Then it was the biggest sign contest. The “Billboard” won this contest.

I started to wonder about this sheriff’s election after seeing and hearing all this. I truly believed at this time that the true meaning in this sheriff’s race had been lost. But I still believed my experience and hard work would pay off.

I then could not believe the “mudslinging” that went on between the supporters of the other two candidates. I thought that at least one of the candidates would tell their supporters to stop. That did not happen.

At this time I personally felt this was very degrading to the Sheriff’s Department in general and wondered where all this was going. These two men were running for the Office of Sheriff acting like this?

Then came the forum. I did not know that the sheriff in any county could supersede any law, let alone the SAFE Act. But then again I told the truth and some people don’t like the truth especially when it comes to enforcing laws.

I was brought up and taught hard work and telling the truth was the right thing to do, and I still believe this – even after losing the sheriff’s race, that turned into a popularity contest.

The sheriff’s race was not won on who had the most experience as a law enforcement official and who could do the job. It was won on who knew who in the political world.

At this time I will take some words from my opponent’s sign – “Experience Does Matter” and the Citizens of Orleans County will find this out.

How do you compare 30 or 23 years of law enforcement experience to having none?

Don Organisciak
Retired Medina Police Investigator
Medina