By LOHR McKINSTRY
Staff Writer
WESTPORT — Retired state correction officer Michael "Ike" Tyler announced his candidacy for Essex County sheriff Wednesday.
Tyler will be on the Nov. 2 general election ballot against Richard Cutting of Elizabethtown.
Although both men are running as independents, they are registered Republicans also seeking endorsement by the county Republican and Democratic parties.
The winner of the election will serve the last three years of the term of Sheriff Henry Hommes, who died in August, too late for the post to be on the primary election ballot.
Tyler, 51, of Marks Road, Westport retired from the State Department of Correctional Services last year. He had been a correction officer for 25 years, last serving at the Moriah State Shock Incarceration Camp.
Most of the sheriff's responsibility involves running the County Jail, which has a $5 million budget, and Tyler said he'd use his experience in the corrections field to reduce costs there.
"The main issue in this election is the shocking budget for the jail. I feel confident I can bring that down and reduce taxes."
He said rising costs at the jail are contributing to the county's $7 million deficit for next year.
"I would attack the issues at the jail by being proactive. We need to have labor-management meetings to stop problems before they start."
Tyler said he'd institute more training for correction officers at the jail and try to base promotions on merit.
The jail could also use a substance-abuse counseling program for inmates, he said.
"We need a network program to curtail recidivism. And we should have inmate work crews going out. They can do things like cut brush and maybe lower our DPW budget. They can help towns and villages."
He said the sheriff needs to be out in public more.
"Another issue is that people want to know the sheriff. When I get elected sheriff, you'll see me out. I'll be attending public meetings around the county. I want to know what people want from the Sheriff's Department."
He said he will also look at the sheriff's fleet of cars to see whether it can be reduced to save on costs.
Some of the high-ranking supervisors in the Sheriff's Department are nearing retirement, he said, and there may be a savings in not replacing them.
"Let's get rid of the chiefs and keep the Indians. The Indians are doing the work."
Tyler has been a member of Westport Town Council for 14 years.
He and his wife, Laura, have been married for 20 years and have three children. He coaches the varsity basketball and modified baseball teams for Westport Central School and is co-chair of the Adirondack Community Action Programs Board of Directors in Elizabethtown.
Since his retirement, Tyler has been filling in as a substitute teacher in Westport and Willsboro and for BOCES programs. He's also working as a private investigator for a Ballston Lake detective agency.
Tyler previously ran for sheriff in 2009, losing the Republican primary to Hommes by 192 votes.
E-mail Lohr McKinstry at: lmckinstry@pressrepublican.com
