McGuire hands Republican nomination to Farrell

By Dan Hust
MONTICELLO — Mike McGuire made it official last night: he’s bowing out of the race for Sullivan County District Attorney.
As a result, he handed the baton to fellow Republican Jim Farrell, who is expected to face off against Democratic DA candidate Glenn Kroll in the fall.
“Since the convention, we’ve gotten a tremendous outpouring of people contacting us ... wanting us to continue,” McGuire said of himself, his family and his campaign team, who logged more than 300 such calls since the April 16 convention where Farrell was chosen by the majority of Republican committee members as their preferred candidate.
“... The popular thing to do would be to continue to run and have a primary,” he told the Democrat, “... but it’s not the right thing to do. The right thing to do is respect the convention process.”
Not wishing to compromise the party’s chances to win the seat DA Steve Lungen is vacating after 28 years, McGuire said he was not pressured by anyone to step out of the running, though he did seek advice from family, friends and fellow politicians.
“I am tremendously disappointed,” he acknowledged but added that just like an athletic game, “when you lose ... you move on.”
So he’ll continue as an attorney in private practice in Ferndale while considering public service at a future date beyond this current election cycle.
GOP Party Chair John LiGreci was pleased with McGuire’s decision.
“He feels it would split the party” to force a primary, LiGreci told the Democrat this week. “I think it’s the best thing ... to unify the Republican ticket.”
Thankful for what he termed a “remarkable” outpouring of support from people all over his home county, McGuire urged voters to choose Republican candidates this November – including his former rival.
“Jim Farrell is the candidate, and that’s who I will support,” he remarked.
Sheriff Michael Schiff, also running on the Republican line in November, was expected to endorse Farrell last night, as well.