For a few hours today, there were two Republicans running for Livingston County Prosecutor in the Aug. 4 primary: incumbent David Reader and his chief assistant, Carolyn Henry.
And then there was one.
Reader — who had filed to run for re-election in October — withdrew from the race, and Henry filed to run yesterday — April 23 — the deadline. (The deadline to withdraw is Friday.)
“For personal reasons, I have decided to not seek another term as the duly elected Prosecutor for Livingston County,” Reader wrote in a statement. “This was a hard decision for my family and myself, but I am satisfied that it is the right one.”
He went on to say he is “delighted” that Henry is running. “I know she will continue the legacy of my tenure, providing honest and ethical service to the residents of Livingston County and justice for all, including the victims and families that we serve.”
Others in Livingston County are not quite as delighted.
“David Reader and Carolyn Henry pulled a bait and switch on the voters,” said Judy Daubenmier, chair of the Livingston County Democratic Party. “They figured no one would file to run against him, but they would file to run against her. So he filed so no one else would in order to clear the path for her.”
Calling Reader’s withdrawal “very underhanded,” Daubenmier said it “doesn’t inspire a lot of trust … when a prosecutor behaves like that.”
The Democrats did not have a candidate who filed to run for prosecutor.
Reader said he’s been privileged to follow in the public service footsteps of his ancestors, some of whom helped settle Livingston County almost 200 years ago, and some who “served as veterans, sacrificing their health and lives in service of our great country.”
“I will leave at the end of my term knowing that the Prosecutor’s Office is in good hands,” Reader said. “I thank the residents of Livingston County for allowing me the opportunity to serve.”
