Longtime Tioga County, New York, Sheriff Gary Howard says he won’t run for reelection when his current term expires at the end of 2027 and will retire after nearly 50 years in law enforcement.
Howard, who joined the sheriff’s office in 1977 as a corrections officer and worked his way up through the ranks, was elected sheriff in 2004 and is serving his sixth term.
Howard, a Republican who is the county’s 63rd elected sheriff, said it’s been an honor and privilege to serve the citizens of Tioga County.
As sheriff, Howard oversees seven operating divisions — including road patrol, criminal investigations, corrections, civil office, E911 emergency communications center, records and administration. Sheriff’s office staff includes 101 sworn officers and 20 civilian employees.
Howard’s tenure as sheriff hasn’t always been smooth or controversy-free.
In July 2025, a federal jury awarded former Undersheriff Wayne Moulton $2 million in a defamation and false accusation case against the county and the sheriff’s office.
In the lawsuit, filed in 2022, Moulton claimed Howard and then-Captain of Operations Shawn Nalepa falsely accused him of misconduct to prevent him from running for sheriff.
The jury unanimously decided in Moulton’s favor, finding those included in the lawsuit guilty of violating his First and Fourteenth Amendment rights. Howard and Nalepa were additionally found guilty of defamation.
With Howard’s decision not to seek a seventh term, at least one candidate has publicly announced plans to run for sheriff in 2027.
Tioga County native and 25-year veteran of the sheriff’s office Frank Lavore will seek the Republican nomination to succeed Howard and has set up a Facebook campaign page.
This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Longtime sheriff to retire as Lavore seeks top law enforcement job
Reporting by Jeff Murray, Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin / Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin
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By Jeff Murray, Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin | USA TODAY Network
