'The fight isn't over': David Cirencione wins GOP nomination for Ontario County sheriff

CANANDAIGUA -- Republican voters in Ontario County seemingly believe someone who works within the embattled department should be the one to lead the men and women who work there going forward.

Ontario County Sheriff’s Lt. David Cirencione led by a 56-43 margin over opponent Silvio Palermo as of 11 p.m. Tuesday in the Republican primary for sheriff, according to unofficial results from the Ontario County Board of Elections.

Cirencione, a Geneva resident, had 4,232 votes to Palermo’s 3,252 votes with all of the election districts reporting. Eleven write-in votes were tallied.

Cirencione, who was said to have taken in the vote results privately with friends and family, issued a statement Tuesday night.

Cirencione
Cirencione

Cirencione stated he is honored and humbled to have earned the trust of Ontario County voters to be nominated as the Republican candidate for sheriff in the primary election.

"But the fight isn't over. We have a lot of work to do to deliver a win in November," Cirencione stated. "You can be sure that Team Cirencione is already gearing up for the general election battle ahead as we race toward Nov. 8. We will work tirelessly to deliver our message of experience and ethics to the voters, so we can continue moving the Sheriff's Office back in the right direction."

Palermo, a Canandaigua resident who ran unsuccessfully for sheriff four years ago, is a former sergeant and watch commander with the Gates Police Department. He most recently was a federal police officer with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Cirencione thanked Palermo for running a spirited race.

"While we don't agree on everything, we agree more than we disagree when it comes to how the Sheriff's Office should operate for the next four years and beyond," Cirencione stated.

Palermo said the results were not what he and his team were hoping for, but is proud of the campaign.

"We worked very hard and raised some important issues," Palermo said, adding he called and congratulated Cirencione and offered his best wishes. "I will always continue to advocate for best practices for law enforcement."

Cirencione, who first joined the Sheriff’s Office in 2002 as a deputy, has served as commanding officer of the Road Patrol, Crime Scene Unit, Underwater Search and Recovery Team, Field Training Officer Program and Eastview Mall Patrol. He has also helped train the next generation of law enforcement as an instructor at the Finger Lakes Law Enforcement Academy for the past 16 years.

This year's race was set up after former Sheriff Kevin Henderson, a Democrat, resigned last September, as did his undersheriff. Employee morale and staffing soon emerged as issues for employees.

Former Sheriff Philip Povero was appointed to serve as interim sheriff until the end of this year.

Retired State Police Sgt. Steven Slavny will run on the Democratic Party line in the November general election.

In their words: Republican candidates for Ontario County sheriff share future plans

More: Ontario County sheriff candidates driven to make communities safer

Victor primary 

In Victor, Incumbent Victor Town Justice Reid Holter appears to have turned back challenger Michael G. Reinhardt in the primary for the Republican Party designation, according to unofficial results from the Board of Elections.

With all election districts reporting, Holter received 690 votes, or 59%, to Reinhardt’s 474 votes, or 41%.

In the Conservative Party primary for the same office, Reinhardt received 15 votes to Holter’s 11 votes.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Ontario County sheriff primary: Cirencione wins GOP race over Palermo