Oneida County establishes legacy awards in honor of retirees

Ed Harris
·2 min read

Oneida County has established legacy awards in honor of District Attorney Scott McNamara and Comptroller Joseph Timpano, who are both retiring at year’s end.

The Scott D. McNamara Excellence in Law Enforcement Award will be given annually to a law enforcement agency member in Oneida County who displays outstanding dedication to upholding the law and ensuring justice is served.

From left, Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente Jr., District Attorney Scott McNamara and Oneida County Board of Legislators Chairman Gerald J. Fiorini at the Wednesday, Dec. 20 Oneida County Board of Legislators meeting.
From left, Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente Jr., District Attorney Scott McNamara and Oneida County Board of Legislators Chairman Gerald J. Fiorini at the Wednesday, Dec. 20 Oneida County Board of Legislators meeting.

The Joseph J. Timpano Excellence in Public Service Award will be given annually to an elected official in Oneida County who displays outstanding leadership in providing exemplary service to their community.

Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente Jr. announced the awards Wednesday.

“Combined, these two men have dedicated over 55 years to the County of Oneida,” Picente said in a statement. “They have served the people admirably and left our community in a better place than they found it. I am proud to call them both dear friends and it has been my honor to have led alongside them. It is my hope that these awards will inspire excellence in law enforcement and public service and pay tribute to the undeniable legacies that Scott McNamara and Joe Timpano have cemented.”

Picente will appoint committees to receive nominations for each award and select the first winners in 2024.

From left, Oneida County Executive Antony Picente and Oneida County Comptroller Joseph Timpano at the Wednesday, Dec. 20 Oneida County Board of Legislators meeting.
From left, Oneida County Executive Antony Picente and Oneida County Comptroller Joseph Timpano at the Wednesday, Dec. 20 Oneida County Board of Legislators meeting.

Award namesakes

McNamara is retiring at the end of the year after more than 30 years of serving Oneida County. He began his career as an assistant district attorney on July 20, 1992. He became acting district attorney in January 2007 after then-District Attorney Michael Arcuri was elected to the U.S. Congress.

McNamara is the longest-ever serving Oneida County District Attorney, having spent 17 years in office since being elected in November 2007.

Timpano will retire as the longest-serving comptroller in the history of Oneida County at the end of the year. He was appointed to fill out the final year of Pat Donovan’s term in 1998 and was elected for the first time in 1999.

He was then re-elected without opposition six consecutive times.

The Excellence in Law Enforcement Award will be displayed in the District Attorney’s Office and the Excellence in Public Service Award will be displayed in the County Office Building.

This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Oneida County establishes awards to honor district attorney, comptroller