SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — The Patrolman’s Benevolent Association, a union for employees of the Sullivan County sheriff’s office, will not make its typical election endorsement for the office of the sheriff after the endorsement vote had “overcast ballots” and an “improper vote county,” according to a letter from the executive board to its members.

Current long-time Republican Sheriff Mike Schiff is seeking reelection. Republican Tim Dymond, a retired New York State Senior Police Investigator, is running against Schiff. The two candidates will appear on the Republican primary ballot this June.

The letter to the PBA union members states, “Our recent election endorsement vote, unfortunately, found itself surrounded in subjection and conjecture. The process itself was visibly wrought with perversion, and subsequent broad discussions ensued at the corresponding meeting surrounding the matter of overcast ballots and the improper vote count, an issue that has never occurred in any past member vote in at least the last two decades.” Incumbent Mike Schiff received a majority of the “improper vote count.”

The letter says the executive board met extensively to discuss the best options. “Through our executive meetings and subsidiary and privileged motions, the recasting of ballots, providing an electronic means of voting, and all other options were exhausted,” it says.

Ultimately the letter says in a two-thirds supermajority of the executive board, it was determined “that the only right and just resolution is to provide no endorsement for any and all current or future candidates in this and any local 2025 election.” The letter says the union will be exploring changes to how ballots are cast moving forward.

The Sullivan County Republican Party, however, voted to endorse Schiff over Dymond at its annual nominating convention.

Recently, PBA president Jack Harb—who is quoted in the February 13 River Reporter article titled “Misconduct alleged in Sullivan County Sheriff’s Office,” accusing the sheriff’s office of a hostile work environment—was suspended from the sheriff’s office without pay for 30 days on February 11. Read recent coverage of the sheriff’s officer at riverreporter.com/stories/misconduct-alleged-in-sullivan-county-sheriffs-office,182433? and riverreporter.com/stories/detective-suspended-from-the-sullivan-county-sheriffs-office,183762?.