Fernandez Plans

Primary Vs. Devlin

Trooper Makes Bid For Sheriff Official

ONEONTA – Retired state trooper Bob Fernandez plans to challenge incumbent Sheriff Richard J. Devlin Jr. in a Sept. 19 primary for the Republican nomination, he announced at his official campaign kickoff Saturday at the Oneonta Vets Club.

“We really are going to try to turn this sheriff’s office around,” Fernandez told a crowd of well-wishers. “We going to make it a better office, a more cooperative office within our community, and use the resources that are available to us in order to safeguard our communities.”

In early March, the Otsego County Republican Committee, meeting in Milford, endorsed Devlin over Fernandez, who is husband of former county Board Chairman Kathy Clark, R-Otego.