The Orange Police Union has voted to endorse Mike Southworth to be the next state Senator for the 14th District.
Ryan DePolo, president of the union, announced that the members will enthusiastically “support and encourage everyone in the Town of Orange to vote for Mike Southworth,” adding that “we believe that Mike Southworth will listen to the experts and constituents alike and that he is committed to keeping our town safe.”
While DePolo said the union avoids politicizing public safety, state Sen. James Maroney’s support of a controversial police reform bill passed during a special legislative session this year prompted DePolo’s members to endorse Maroney’s opponent. The bill, which passed into law, “will weaken the safety net of our communities, as well as drive up costs for the municipalities and its taxpayers. This bill was a way to defund the police by forcing impossible mandates on law enforcement agencies,” DePolo said.
Southworth said he was “honored to accept the strong and substantive endorsement by the members of the Orange Police Union” and committed to “working with experts to craft legislation that makes necessary reforms while keeping communities safe.”