Ontario County DA race: Prosecutor Jason MacBride to challenge incumbent James Ritts
MacBride will be running up against the incumbent DA, James Ritts, who announced in October that he will be seeking this third term for DA.
Currently, MacBride serves as an Assistant County Attorney for Ontario County as a juvenile prosecutor. He also counsels the Ontario County Department of Social Services in investigations and court proceedings involving child abuse and neglect. According to his statement, MacBride was the First Assistant District Attorney for Ontario County for over 10 years before joining the County Attorney's Office. He also worked as a prosecutor at the Monroe County District Attorney's Office for eight years.
In a statement, MacBride said he would be entering the race with a commitment to deliver justice and to restore a "collaborative and respectful partnership with the law enforcement community."
'The DA's Office, and the victims it serves, deserves a leader who will do everything in his power to protect the children and families of Ontario County, ' MacBride said. 'I am ready to fight and restore the public's trust in our top law enforcement office.'
The incumbent Ontario County District Attorney James Ritts, who is also running as a Republican for his third term as the DA, said he was shocked to learn about MacBride's campaign announcement. "But what I will say is every victim has always had a voice in my office. Every victim has always been supported, and every victim will be supported under my administration," Ritts said.
The two will be gunning for the republican spot in the Ontario County Primary Election, which will be held on Tuesday, June 24.
Ritts believes that he and his staff have been running the office with integrity, honor and honesty, he said. He said that he runs his office based on the county he represents and that his team has been dedicated to making sure that every victim has a voice, which he said he plans to continue doing moving forward.
The decision will be left up to the Republican Party.
"We'll see what the party does," Ritts said. "You know, I sit here as an incumbent with 26 years of experience with a staff that is available and works 24 hours a day, seven days a week when necessary. You're not going to find a better staff and a more dedicated staff than we have in this office right now."
According to MacBride's statement, if he gets elected as the DA in the upcoming election he pledges to:
Aggressively prosecute child rapists and murderers.
Lock up dangerous drug dealers who seek to destroy our community.
Prevent and crack down on drunk drivers who endanger our streets.
Treat each and every crime victim with the respect they deserve.
Restore a strong partnership with our law enforcement agencies.
To learn more about the electoral process or review your voter registration, visit the Ontario County Board of Elections website at https://ontariocountyny.gov/Elections.
For more information, you can contact the board by phone at 585-396-4005 or online at ontariocountyny.gov/contactboe.
— Madison Scott is a journalist with the Democrat and Chronicle who edited our Weld Street Project and also did reporting for it. She has an interest in how the system helps or doesn't help families with missing loved ones. She can be reached at MDScott@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Ontario County DA race: Jason MacBride to challenge James Ritts
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