North Haverhill
After discussing it with her family, the 51-year-old Saffo said this year made sense to step down from the post she has held for about nine years. Saffo, a Democrat, said she looks forward to working with a new county attorney and providing a seamless transition.
Sugar Hill, N.H., resident Natch Greyes, a 29-year-old prosecutor in Littleton, N.H., who has worked as a fellow in the New Hampshire Attorney General’s Office and interned at the FBI while in law school at The College of William & Mary in Virginia, is running as a Democrat for the seat.
“I am running for Grafton County Attorney because I believe that we can do more to pursue justice and promote the safety and security of the county’s citizens,” Greyes said in a statement. “(Over the past four years), I’ve learned how the justice system works and where it needs to be improved. Not every case ends with a lengthy jail sentence. Not every case should. But every case should give the victims of crimes the justice they deserve. That’s the vision that I want to bring.”
While working as a district court prosecutor in Littleton, as well as in Sugar Hill and Franconia, Greyes said, he has worked to improve services for victims of domestic and sexual violence, integrate the court system with veterans affairs services and support getting addicts into drug courts.
Addressing the underlying problem is crucial and it leads to better recidivism rates, Greyes said.
He hopes to continue to expand alternative sentencing programs, such as drug and mental health courts, in Grafton County, something Saffo has worked to create and strengthen.
“It is an incredibly time consuming job,” Saffo said. “It’s been an honor.”
The county attorney salary is budgeted at $82,200 for fiscal year 2018.
The filing period started on Wednesday and runs through June 15, so other candidates for that office and others may emerge.
Dutile, the Republican sheriff, has filed to retain the position he has held for 12 years.
The veteran law enforcement officer has had a challenger “almost every year,” but has prevailed in the race. He credits his experience “in law enforcement and especially within the sheriff’s department,” the 61-year-old said. He has been in the Sheriff’s Office since 1990, and worked his way up the ranks.
“I know the ins and outs, from budgeting … to responsibilities,” Dutile said.
Stiegler, who graduated from Woodsville High School and has been with Bradford for at least five years, said he always has had aspirations of becoming sheriff.
The 51-year-old said his knowledge and partnerships cross borders, something that could be seen as an asset for the position. Prior to working in Bradford and as a part-time officer at Plymouth State University, Stiegler worked with the Laconia Police Department for more than 20 years.
“I am a very personable guy, approachable guy and a very programmable guy,” Stiegler said. “Based on reasonability, it doesn’t matter what I think. It matters what the people think. If it is something in my scope of authority, and if it is professional, ethical and lawful, I will do anything and everything I can to make sure it gets done.”
He said he supports a needs-based budget model and believes in workplace accountability.
The sheriff’s position for fiscal year 2018 is budgeted at $62,500.
Jordan Cuddemi can be reached at jcuddemi@vnews.com or 603-727-3248.