Essex County Sheriff's Seat Open This Fall

SALEM, MA - Last week, longtime Essex County Sheriff Frank Cousins announced that he will not be running for reelection this year.

Cousins, a Newburyport Republican, has served as the county’s sheriff for the past two decades.

Cousins told the Lawrence Eagle Tribune that he has no immediate plans to run for another office or take another job.

Cousins name has been mentioned in the past as a possible candidate for higher office as well as for a position in Governor Charlie Baker’s administration.

One candidate who will be looking to succeed Cousins is Jerry Robito, who worked in the Sheriff’s Department from 1975 to 2009, when he retired as the assistant superintendent of the Middleton County Jail.

Robito is currently gathering signatures to appear on the Democratic primary ballot.

Robito has been critical of the current administration in the past. On his website, Robito stated “career politicians have run the department long enough and Essex County has suffered the consequences. It is time for the leadership of someone who understands the inner workings of our prison system to make the changes that are needed for the Department to reach its fullest potential and to keep the people of Essex County safe.”