Despite criminal charges, Lancaster highway chief seeks reelection
Reese feisty amid ‘raw deal’
Many people assumed that Richard L. Reese Jr.’s political career was over in April, when the Town of Lancaster highway superintendent was charged with assaulting an FBI agent and having an unregistered handgun in his house.
Although he has not been to work since then — terms of his bail agreement require him to stay off town property — Reese says his supporters have convinced him to run for reelection.
“I’ve had numerous people urging me to run again,” he said. “They feel I got a raw deal, and they think I did an excellent job for the past 12 years.”
Reese, a volunteer firefighter for two decades, remains president of the Bowmansville Volunteer Fire Association. Several of his friends there are helping him gather signatures to secure a place on the ballot.
They say it’s just a matter of time until his name is cleared.
“If he’s not helping somebody put windows in their house or fix their roof, you’ll find him down at the firehouse fixing the plumbing,” said Douglas J. Grimmer, a fellow firefighter. “If something’s wrong, Rich is the first guy there with a hammer. That’s just the kind of guy he is.”
Reese, 57, declined in an interview to talk specifically about the charges he faces, or the statements FBI agents made in April indicating he had admitted diverting money from recycled goods collected by the town. Agents said he told them he regularly repaid the money he took but had not yet repaid the most recent amount, $2,800.
He did talk about how devastated he was, though, when his wife, Donna, unexpectedly became ill last November. She died two months later.
“After losing my wife in January, my mental state has not been normal,” he said.
In early April, FBI agents came to his house to interview him about allegations that he had misused town equipment and money. They said after he signed a statement, he seemed upset and said he would commit suicide before news of the investigation was in the media. Agents said they tried to stop him from leaving his kitchen, fearing he had a gun in the house.
He struggled with agents for several minutes, investigators said. Town police said they later found two handguns — a .357 Magnum and a Derringer — in the house, one of them not registered.
The case involving a charge of criminal possession of a weapon was moved to Town Court in Clarence because of a conflict of interest. His next court date there is July 16.
A spokeswoman for the U. S. attorney’s office said no court date is currently scheduled before U. S. Magistrate Judge H. Kenneth Schroeder on the charge of assaulting a federal officer.
No charges have been brought against Reese regarding his use of town funds or equipment.
Since his arrest, Reese has been banned from town property as part of his bail agreement with Schroeder. Reese has continued to receive his $71,892 salary while on leave. Because he is an elected official in Lancaster, the Town Board does not have the authority to suspend or replace him, Town Attorney John M. Dudziak said.
Reese said he has been getting an overwhelmingly positive response from town residents as he goes door-to-door collecting signatures. His record as highway superintendent speaks for itself, he says. He helped the town secure $500,000 in federal reimbursement for storm cleanup over the years, he said, and instituted an equipment-replacement schedule to save on maintenance costs.
“I feel I’ve done good for the town the past 12 years I’ve been in office,” he said. “I want to continue, and I feel I’m capable of doing that. I love my job. I love dealing with the public. I feel I’ve proven myself for the time I’ve been in.
“I take pride in the fact the residents of the Town of Lancaster are able to move around freely in the town in the winter months. I make sure the town is kept clean regarding brush pickup. We’re out every day doing that.”
A spokeswoman for the U. S. attorney’s office declined to comment about Reese’s reelection bid, and an FBI spokesman did not return phone calls seeking comment.
Town officials directed questions to Dudziak, who said the Town Board appointed Louis Cacciotti as deputy highway superintendent after Reese was charged. Cacciotti, a crew chief, is not receiving any additional pay for the extra duties.
Because of the unprecedented nature of Reese’s situation, it remains unclear what would happen if he were re-elected, Dudziak said.
“It’s speculative,” the town attorney said. “He currently has a directive not to come on town property. It would be pretty difficult for him to execute his duties. From the town’s perspective, we’re just in a wait-and-see posture.”
Reese said he hopes to be exonerated before the Democratic primary in September, when he will run against the party’s endorsed candidate, Town Councilman Daniel J. Amatura.
“I hope that people can see through this and realize the job I had done in the past,” Reese said. “I hope I can remain in the position. I’d like to have at least eight more years in and be eligible to retire. That’s what I’m shooting for.”
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