Next Putnam County Sheriff: Langley, Smith Issue Statements

PUTNAM COUNTY, NY — The Board of Elections counted absentee ballots in the close-fought sheriff's race Tuesday night. And Robert L. Langley Jr. narrowly expanded his narrow lead, winning the post of Putnam County Sheriff.

Write-in votes — there were 483 — were read Wednesday afternoon at 1 p.m. by the Putnam County Board of Elections.

Langley, a Democrat, won over Sheriff Donald Smith, a four-term incumbent, widened his initial margin once absentee ballots were counted.

After the polls closed, Langley had 11,732 votes to 11,397 for Smith, according to unofficial results from the Putnam County Board of Elections. As of 1:53 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, Langley's total stood at 12,308 to 11,967 for Smith.

Smith had waited to concede, saying he expected a wave of support in the absentee ballots from military residents serving overseas.

Langley will return to the department from which he retired in 2007. Wednesday afternoon, he issued a statement:

Thank you, Putnam County for putting your trust in me and electing me Sheriff. I thank those who voted for me, and I am eager to earn the support of those who did not. I pledge to work hard for everyone in Putnam--to serve with integrity and accountability to the public.

I am grateful to all those who worked so hard to see me elected -- canvassers, callers, hosts of forums and house events, my campaign team and donors. Everyone gave their all. I am proud of the team we built and the good work we did. We won this race together.

To the men and women of the Sheriff's Department, I am eager to work alongside you and serve the public with you. In the coming weeks, I will be planning my transition into office and considering appointments that I believe will best serve our communities and our team.

Let's get to work Putnam. Let's return integrity to the Office of Sheriff, together.

Campaign representatives watched the absentee ballot county process Tuesday night, but neither candidate was there, according to The Putnam Examiner.

Smith also issued a statement Wednesday afternoon:

• Mr. Langley will be the next Sheriff of Putnam County and I congratulate him and wish him well. I know we both agree that all the votes need to be counted and we both will respect the final tally. I am very proud of the positive, clean campaign that we conducted and, I believe, our campaign upheld the honor and integrity of the Office of Sheriff.
• I am very proud of my hard working and dedicated campaign team which worked with great heart throughout an incredibly long and tedious race. I thank them and ask them to hold their heads up high and be proud of their efforts in support of the People of Putnam County, the Office of Sheriff and our great democracy.
• I take this opportunity to thank my Command Staff, our Leadership Team and all the hard working men and women of the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office and Correctional Facility for working so hard in serving the People and helping keep Putnam County one of the safest counties in America. You are truly “the best” and it has been my great honor and privilege to serve as your leader for these past incredible 16 years. Your allegiance is not to any one person, but is to our great Constitution and the People of Putnam County who we are honored to serve. I know you will continue in this same spirit under your new Sheriff.
• I thank the People of Putnam County for giving me the privilege of serving you these past 16 years as your Sheriff. It has truly been one of the greatest honors and privileges of my entire life. I feel very honored and blessed to have dedicated my life in serving in two of the most noble professions, the United States Military and law enforcement.
• I thank my family for their love and support. Tonight, I remember and thank my late parents, my brothers and sisters, my children, Christopher and Cherilynne, and their spouses, Mary and Jesse, my grandchildren, and of course, my late wife, and the love of my life, My Lady Jane for supporting me, loving me, and allowing me to serve.
• May God bless you all. May God bless Putnam County and May God continue to bless the United States of America.

PHOTO: Robert L. Langley Jr. via langleyforsheriff.com