By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
Cattaraugus County Public Defender Darryl Bloom announced over the weekend that he was seeking the County Court judge vacancy.
Bloom is seeking the nomination of the Republican and Conservative parties to get on the November ballot. He is the county’s second public defender, having succeeded Mark S. Williams, the first to hold the office.
Democrats do not have candidate for county court, according to County Chairwoman Mandy Bushnell.
Bloom has practiced law for 17 years. He was a member of the Public Defender’s Office when he was first appointed Public Defender in February 2018. He was re-appointed by Cattaraugus County lawmakers to a third four-year term last year that began in January.
Bloom is seeking to replace County Court Judge Moses Mark Howden as Family Court judge. Howden is retiring after reaching the mandatory retirement age of 70.
In a letter to friends, Bloom noted the County Court post “is a multi-bench position, a role that has historically been centered on Family Court.”
Bloom wrote: “Having personally handled well over a thousand criminal and family court cases throughout my career, I’ve seen firsthand the deep impact these decisions have on the families and children in our community.
“While you might know me best from the courtroom, my time managing The Cattaraugus County Public Defender’s Office, overseeing a staff of 25 and a multi-million dollar budget has given me the administrative perspective needed to keep our courts running efficiently.
“Additionally, during my term on the Olean City Zoning Board of Appeals, I had the opportunity to serve in a quasi-judicial capacity, which was invaluable in honing my ability to remain impartial and apply the law to complex facts,” Bloom said in the letter.
“Families in crisis deserve a bench that is consistent and fair and I will strive to find a perfect balance between justice and mercy while upholding the rule of law,” Bloom said.
