By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
LITTLE VALLEY — The Cattaraugus County sheriff and former sheriff on Monday endorsed County Attorney Ashley Smith in a Republican primary for district attorney.
Sheriff Eric Butler and retired Sheriff Timothy S. Whitcomb issued a statement via Facebook stating their support for Smith to succeed District Attorney Lori P. Rieman, who announced last month she is not seeking re-election.
Assistant Public Defender Preston Marshall of Randolph also declared his candidacy to seek the Republican nomination for district attorney last month.
Smith of Allegany, did not return calls seeking comment on her prosecutorial and trial experience.
“Ashley is the right Republican for the job,” Butler and Whitcomb said.
“Between the two of us, we’ve led the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office for the past 17 years and have a combined 60 plus years of professional law enforcement experience. We’ve spent countless hours working with prosecutors, including five different District Attorneys,” the sheriff and retired sheriff’s statement read.
Smith served as a town justice in Leon before her appointment as county attorney in 2020. She also served as an assistant county attorney in the Department of Social Services. Smith has never worked as a criminal prosecutor.
Whitcomb, not concerned about lack of criminal law experience, “I think experience has to start somewhere.”
Contacted by the Olean Star Tuesday, Whitcomb, who retired last August after 15 years as sheriff, said he was not concerned about Smith’s lack of prosecutorial experience.
“I think experience has got to start somewhere,” Whitcomb said. “I’ve found that education and personality is very strong with Ashley.”
Whitcomb said he worked with five district attorneys in his 34 years in the sheriff’s department from Larry Himelein to Lori Rieman. “I’m very excited Ashley is having the opportunity to fill that role.”
Candidates may begin circulating nominating petitions on Feb. 28. They must be filed by April 3. The primary this year is on June 24.
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