Retired sheriff's detective will run for District 7 county Legislature seat

PIERREPONT — A former St. Lawrence County law enforcement official wants to try his hand at county government.

Republican Scott M. Sutherland announced Tuesday he plans to run for the District 7 Legislature seat held by Democrat Laura J. Perry, Hopkinton. Ms. Perry has said she will not seek re-election in November.

"I've watched county government from a different perspective for many years," said Mr. Sutherland, a retired Sheriff's Department detective sergeant. "I just want to make good decisions for people. I'm not in this because I have an ax to grind or an agenda."

The Newton Falls native retired from a 33-year career with the Sheriff's Department in 2008. He was a Canton Central School District Board of Education member for 11 years, serving as president and vice president.

Mr. Sutherland said he has lived in the town of Pierrepont for the last 30 years and is familiar with the issues facing the district's Adirondack townships.

"People in my area want roads and bridges maintained. They have to travel a long way to get to a lot of places," he said. "I think the county has done a good job with its roads and bridges, but we have to maintain that level and improve where we can."

He said tough financial times call for a common-sense approach to ease government's burden on property taxpayers. He said he does not favor raising property taxes or the county's 3 percent sales tax before taking a serious look at how current revenues are spent.

"We have to look at how much revenue we take in and what services we want to provide," Mr. Sutherland said. "People want services they can afford. You have to use your revenues wisely. Our economy has always lagged a year or two behind what's going on in the national economy, and for the next couple of years it's not going to be easy."

Mr. Sutherland is a 1972 graduate of Monroe County Community College, Rochester, where he studied police science. He and his wife, Christine M., have two grown children and are expecting their fourth grandchild within the next week.