"Bump the Dump" era sheriff endorses Mackney in Allegany County race

Some remember, many don't - but in the late 1980's and early 1990's, Allegany County was the prime location for the development of a dumpsite for the nation's low level nuclear waste. That story was first reported on a Saturday morning when I was involved in the ownership of WJQZ radio and its news director. It was a tip I received, quite by accident. It was my story. All Hell broke loose. Larry Scholes was the Allegany County Sheriff at the time. Scholes won accolades for how he handled the protests and near riots. Now, hardly heard from in decades, Scholes speaks...
The Mackney for Sheriff campaign this morning released this press statement:

L-R: Mackney, Scholes

Retired Allegany County Sheriff Lawrence (Larry) Scholes is the best example I know of a true servant of the people of Allegany County. He started at the Allegany County Sheriff’s Office in 1973 working for Sheriff Dick Burdick. In 1975 Sheriff Burdick made Larry his Undersheriff. Sheriff Burdick fell ill later that year and Larry became “Acting Sheriff” until Reynard Meacham was elected to the office in 1978. Larry continued as Undersheriff until he was elected as Sheriff in November of 1983. Many of us will remember in April of 1990 when Sheriff Scholes defied Governor Mario Cuomo, The New York State Siting Commission and New York State Police Superintendent Thomas Constantine when New York wanted to build a low level nuclear waste dump site in Allegany County. Larry held onto his convictions and demonstrated true Law Enforcement professionalism during the following “Bump the Dump” protests which eventually saw the State Siting Commission give up on the idea of using Allegany County as a nuclear waste dump site.

Larry retired from Public Service in 1998 and as far as I know served longer as Undersheriff/Sheriff than anyone else in Allegany County’s history. He was probably, without a doubt, the most popular. Larry Scholes has never publically endorsed a candidate for the Office of Sheriff until now. I am honored to have his support and to be his first public endorsement for Sheriff and I am even more honored to be his friend.