Ontario County clerk dies unexpectedly

Mike Murphy, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
·2 min read

CANANDAIGUA, NY - County officials on Tuesday announced the unexpected death of Ontario County Clerk Matthew Hoose, less than a week after the Ontario County Board of Supervisors approved a no-confidence vote in him.

According to a statement released Tuesday afternoon, "it is with sympathy that Ontario County has confirmed that the County Clerk, Matthew Hoose, died unexpectedly on Tuesday, February 21, 2023."

Ontario County sheriff's deputies confirmed his death after responding to a town of Canandaigua residence, according to a statement from Sheriff David Cirencione issued Tuesday afternoon.

The cause of death remains under investigation by the Sheriff's Criminal Investigation Division and County Coroner's Office but does not appear suspicious, Cirencione said.

The county and sheriff indicated there will be no further comment at this time.

Matthew Hoose
Matthew Hoose

"Our thoughts and prayers are with his entire family," the county's statement read. "We ask that the privacy of his family be respected."

"The men and women of the Ontario County Sheriff's Office extend our heartfelt thoughts and prayers to the Hoose family during this difficult time," Cirencione stated.

Hoose had served as county clerk since 2012. A Republican, he ran unopposed in 2019 for the county seat, which carries a four-year term.

The Board of Supervisors cited delays in required payments and providing reports to various state agencies in explaining the unanimous vote last Thursday night. Supervisors also said there was a lack of communication in addressing their concerns with these alleged issues.

The county was first made aware of alleged delays last June.

The Board of Supervisors has engaged a forensic audit firm to begin a thorough audit of all banking transactions to and from five accounts that were discovered to be controlled solely by the county clerk and outside the oversight of the county’s finance department as required by the county’s local law, according to the statement. County leadership has also reached out to the state comptroller’s office to assist in the audit of banking and internal practices within the clerk’s office.

DMV to close Wednesday

In the wake of his death, county officials said the Ontario County Department of Motor Vehicles will be closed to in-person transactions Wednesday, Feb. 22.

Residents will be able to drop off registration transactions in the drop-box located at the Department ofMotor Vehicle entrance for processing.

All other transactions will need to wait until the office reopens Thursday, Feb. 23, county officials said.

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Matthew Hoose, Ontario County clerk, died unexpectedly on Tuesday