Editor,

My name is David Wern. I reside in Sherburne and I am an elected Town Councilman. Before moving to Sherburne 8 years ago, I spent 38 years in Cortland County. While there, I was an elected member of the Cortland County Legislature for 12 years and served on the Judiciary Committee. I have worked on many judicial campaigns, including the campaigns of many Judges currently sitting in Cortland County. Although I am not an attorney, I am very familiar with the unique ethical rules pertaining to judicial races and I have become rather concerned of late.

In this campaign for County Court Judge, the McBride Campaign Team has clearly adopted a very “old school” strategy of directly soliciting the public support of prominent law enforcement officials – a tactic which is as old as dirt, and which is designed to convince the average layperson voter that the endorsed candidate is the right person for the job. The tactic is and always has been a deliberate attempt to focus the voting public’s attention on the impressiveness of the endorsement, rather than on the candidate. The hope is that the public will unquestionably follow suit and vote for the candidate, based upon the strength and reputation of the endorsement.

Generally, candidates for any office are allowed to seek the support and endorsement of anyone they choose. However, judicial candidates are far more restricted in what they can do and the ethical rules strongly caution the candidates to refrain from seeking endorsements that might bring the candidate’s ability to remain impartial into question. This tactic adopted by the McBride Campaign Team, clearly brings into question his ability to remain fair and impartial, if elected. I will explain.

When Mr. McBride first announced his candidacy from the steps of the Chenango County Courthouse, standing by his side was County Sheriff Ernie Cutting, Undersheriff James Lloyd, Norwich City Police Chief Joseph Angelino, Greene Village Police Chief Stephen Dutcher and other law enforcement officials. Since then, Norwich Police Chief Angelino, Undersheriff Lloyd and Sheriff’s Detective Cobb have all written letters of endorsement to the newspapers; and Sheriff Ernie Cutting has been walking Mr. McBride door to door around the county endorsing his campaign to the voters – don’t take my word, just check out McBride’s Facebook page and check out McBride’s own paid for newspaper ads boasting of the endorsements. A press release was also recently issued by the McBride Team announcing that the New York State Association of Criminal Investigators (BCI), the chief investigative unit of the NYS Police, has also endorsed Mr. McBride and most recently, the Police Benevolent Association.