Experience, Accountability, and Leadership Matter in the Oswego County Sheriff’s Office

I have been asked by local voters to launch a write-in campaign for Oswego County Sheriff. I agreed because I believe the people of this county deserve leadership built on experience, accountability, sound judgment, and respect for the law.

I am a disabled veteran who served three years as a Captain in Europe with NATO,

where I was responsible for guarding nuclear weapons. Military police worked under my

command, and in my military service I learned firsthand that leadership requires discipline, responsibility, and the ability to make difficult decisions when the stakes are high.

I am also a retired registered nurse with experience in psychiatric nursing and as a

Director of Nursing at the Onondaga County Justice Center in Syracuse. My career has

given me a firsthand understanding of the challenges facing people in custody, the

importance of security, and the responsibility that comes with managing personnel in a

correctional environment. I am also a former small-business owner.

Across my military service, nursing career, and business tenure, I bring more than

40 years of management experience. I understand that effective leadership is about

more than giving orders. It requires accountability, sound decision-making, responsible

use of resources, and the ability to manage people fairly and effectively.

I also understand what due process really means. Our laws and constitutional

protections matter, and those entrusted with enforcing the law must be held to the same

standards they expect everyone else to follow.

That brings me to some important questions Oswego County voters deserve to

consider.

How much management experience did Sheriff Hilton have when he was first elected?

What does his record tell us about leadership and accountability? And given the importance of understanding and following the law, voters deserve clear answers about the reported Hatch Act violation and the circumstances surrounding it.

There is another serious issue that deserves transparency. Questions have been raised

about an investigation involving the Sheriff and his department by the New York State

Attorney General. The public deserves accurate information, accountability, and

confidence that these matters are being handled appropriately.

Anyone seeking to lead a law enforcement agency should welcome scrutiny and be prepared to answer legitimate questions.

Being sheriff involves far more than putting handcuffs on people and talking tough. It

requires sound judgment, professional management, knowledge of the law, respect for

constitutional rights, and the ability to lead an entire organization with integrity.

My experience in the military, healthcare, corrections, and business has taught me that

leadership is earned through service, responsibility, and accountability. I believe those

qualities are essential in the Oswego County Sheriff’s Office.

That is why I am launching this write-in campaign. I want to give voters another choice

and encourage a serious conversation about what qualifications, experience, and

values matter most in the office of sheriff.

On Election Day, I ask the people of Oswego County to consider writing in James

Cannon for Sheriff. Our county deserves leaders that respect the rule of law, respect the people it serves, and recognizes that accountability starts at the top.

Respectfully,

James Cannon

Fulton, NY

Write-In Candidate for Oswego County Sheriff