DeStefano Withdraws

Another dramatic turn in the race for Putnam sheriff occurred early Wednesday morning when Captain Andrew DeStefano withdrew from the race to become Putnam’s top lawman citing a “family emergency.”

The announcement was so sudden that residents who had worked closely on the campaign had no inkling until they awoke to find their DeStefano campaign signs had been removed from their lawns overnight. DeStefano’s withdrawal narrows the field in next week’s Republican primary to the incumbent, Don Smith, and former Southeast Judge Jim Borkowski.

In a statement released to the media, DeStefano said, “Due to a dire family emergency, it is with regret I must withdraw from the race for Putnam County Sheriff. I will be out of the country attending to these family emergencies until further notice.”

Sheriff Smith reacted to the news by telling the Courier, “DeStefano is a family man and on behalf of the residents of Putnam, I wish the DeStefano family well. I don’t know what he’s going through, but I am saddened by this turn of events.” Asked to comment on the dramatic turn in what has been a heated Republican primary, Smith remarked, “It’s a very unusual race.”

Borkowski would not comment directly on DeStefano’s decision. “Putnam has a choice between an incumbent sheriff who has done nothing about criminal illegal aliens and too little about DWI, and someone who has a plan to deal with both,” Borkowski said. “The choice is very clear and I feel very confident.”

DeStefano and Borkowski often echoed each other’s critiques of Smith, charging the incumbent with inaction with regard to illegal aliens and alleged low morale in the department. The sheriff, who has served in that post since 2002, has responded by noting that Putnam remains one of the safest counties in New York.