Steyer leaving early as sheriff
No successor determined yetBy Nick Dutro, ndutro@advertiser-tribune.com
Seneca County Sheriff Tom Steyer announced Friday he is resigning from his position, effective Jan. 18, 2010.
Steyer submitted his letter of resignation to the Seneca County commissioners and to Janet Leahy, director of the county Board of Elections. Steyer has held the position since 2001 and still has three years left in his third term.
"I will say that in my 34-year career of law enforcement, being a sheriff has probably been the most exciting, most interesting job (I've had)," Steyer said.
An interim sheriff is to be selected by the Republican Central Committee. The replacement would serve until the November 2010 election, at which time voters will decide who serves the balance of Steyer's term.
Steyer said he is backing Capt. Bill Eckelberry as a possible successor.
"I think it could be a smooth transition if he gets it," Steyer said.
Seneca County Commissioner Dave Sauber said he knows Eckelberry well and trusts he could serve the county well as sheriff.
"I think out of (everyone in the office) he is the most qualified, not only because of his 23 years of service, but also his ability to deal with employees on both sides - the road and corrections," Sauber said.
The commissioners have not chosen a replacement, and the final decision is with the Republican Central Committee. Charles Knight, county chairman, said the committee is required to wait five days after Steyer is out of office to make their appointment.
Knight encouraged interested parties to to send a letter of interest to committee secretary Cora Bour, P.O. Box 93, McCutchenville.
Steyer said he has been considering other positions since the primary election last year.
"I started thinking about it when I had some opposition in the last primary. I thought, 'I have a small child, I need a job in case I get beat,' " Steyer said.
Steyer is to take a position with the U.S. Foreign Service. He begins training in Washington, D.C., Jan. 19 and from there he may be positioned at any embassy in the world.
In August 2008, he was offered a different position, but had some medical problems and needed to have those cleared before he could seek other employment.
Part of his decision to go into the Foreign Service is his family's fondness for traveling abroad. The Steyers have traveled throughout Europe and his wife, Mihaela Adelaida Steyer, is a native of Romania.
"My wife and I, my wife is from Europe, we both like to travel, and this will give us an opportunity to travel to various countries," Steyer said. "I'm looking forward to it."
Mihaela said she is proud of her husband and also is looking forward to what the future holds, not only for the two of them, but also for their 5-year-old son, Louis.
"He can discover so many cultures," Mihaela said.
Sauber knew Steyer had been looking at other positions, but said he was "shocked" when he heard the news. Sauber said the sheriff will be missed.
"He has done such a great job for the community," Sauber said. "I'm going to hate to see him leave."
Knight also had kind words to say about Steyer's time as sheriff.
"Tom did an excellent job," Knight said. "He's a very concerned citizen that worked tenaciously to help the community. There are few people I know who have ills to speak of him as the sheriff."
As he recalled his time in office, Steyer said he has enjoyed the last nine years, and is excited for possibilities of what his new position holds.
"I'm glad I had the sheriff's job and I'm looking forward to new challenges of the foreign service job," Steyer said.
