MAYVILLE, NY - Chautauqua Sheriff Joseph Gerace has led the sheriff's office for 24 years -- he was seeking a seventh term. But, was defeated by a former lieutenant of the sheriff's office who used to work under Sheriff Gerace.
"I think he's done a good job, I decided to run because I think there are some things we can do differently and more efficiently," said Jim Quattrone, the Chautauqua County sheriff-elect.
When asked by 2 On Your side if he was surprised he won, Quattrone replied, "I wasn't surprised based on the reaction I was getting from the community as we were out campaigning."
Here, the Gerace name is embedded in politics. The county municipal building is named after the sheriff's father, who was once county executive. Gerace, who's a Democrat and lives in Jamestown, was not at work Wednesday.
REPORTER: Why are we not able to talk to you on camera?
"Right now, I'm spending time with my family something I haven't been able to do in quite some time. Obviously I'm disappointed. I love what I do," Gerace told 2 On Your Side over the phone Wednesday.
We asked him if there was anything that could've been done differently this election year, to which Gerace said, "Unless you were to interview everyone who voted for my opponent, we will never know."
Gerace hopes programs he oversaw such as a forensic identification team remain intact. Quattrone says he can't make any guarantees.
"We have to properly evaluate all the programs, to make sure they're being run effectively and efficiently," Quattrone said.
He says he wants to fight the drug crisis.
"Currently in Chautauqua County, there are two drug task forces, we really need to be working as one single unit where we can at least collaborate," Quattrone said when we asked him how he would address that crisis.
As for what's next for Sheriff Gerace, he says he has not made up his mind. In the past, he has taught part-time at Jamestown Community College and at Fredonia, but says he doesn't know whether he wants to do that full-time.