WATCH: Allard appeared on “Frankly Speaking” FOX WYDC
By Andrew Harris
In a regular appearance on Frank Acomb’s talk show, the subject of the Sheriff’s pending legal battles with Steuben County brought to light new developments.
“Frankly Speaking” has been at the forefront of the reporting on the battle over indemnification of the county sheriff. In this interview Acomb asked the Sheriff for updates on that legal fight which has pitted an elected sheriff against the legislature. Allard explained the heart of the matter in a 2023 release:
“One of these resolutions would prevent me from carrying out the duties of my office until I have personally purchased those millions of dollars in insurance; the other takes away the protection that the County gives to other officers and staff against being sued for performing their duties.”
In late 2023, the county legislature voted to remove the standard coverage afforded to the county sheriff in what many felt was personally motivated by now former legislative chair Scott VanEtten. Allard responded by taking the county to NYS supreme court and decisively winning the argument. The county has been mulling an appeal since that decision but has only filed for extensions to appeal so far.
The ordeal has caused some real hard feelings within Steuben County government and the local community. No stranger to politics, Hornell restauranteur Joe Racalto penned this OP-ED on the subject recently:
