Kurt Cummings, the public safety chief of A Pocono Country Place in Tobyhanna, announced his candidacy for Monroe County Sheriff at a meeting of the county Democratic committee in Stroudsburg. It is his second run for office since 2017 bid for district justice in Coolbaugh, an election won by Danielle Travagline.

Cummings said he has the experience to run the sheriff's office and is ready to take on the duties and responsibilities of running a 47-member department.

"The Sheriff's Office works with local judges and serves warrants, which is pretty much part of the duties of the APCP Public Safety Office along with emergency medical response," said the former emergency medical technician and peace officer who led Fernwood Resort's Public Safety Department.

Cummings, of Tobyhanna, said being Monroe County sheriff would be a lateral move from the position he's held for the past five years as Public Safety chief of A Pocono Country Place in Coolbaugh Township.

The party began searching for a new candidate for sheriff after Joseph Rogan accepted a job with the Pennsylvania state police and withdrew from the campaign.

The race for sheriff has taken on new life after longtime incumbent Todd Martin announced he will not be seeking re-election.

"The Sheriff's Office works with local judges and serves warrants, which is pretty much part of the duties of the APCP Public Safety Office along with emergency medical response," said the former emergency medical technician and peace officer who led Fernwood Resort's Public Safety Department.

"There are comparisons between the two positions," said Cummings, 49, a former New York City police communications technician running on the Democratic ticket for sheriff.

"The Sheriff's Office has 47 employees. The APCP Public Safety Office has 43. Both offices have comparable budgets.

"If I were to be elected sheriff, my duties would be pretty similar to what I'm doing now, but in a capacity that reaches far beyond just one residential community," he said. "I feel it's time to grow and serve in that greater capacity."

"There were people impressed with how I'd campaigned for district judge," said Cummings, now in his second consecutive year as Coolbaugh Township's representative to the Pocono Mountain Regional Police Commission.

"I'd done most of the work myself and managed to get support from my church and many people in the community.

"Because of this, I was chosen over six other prospects to run on the ticket for sheriff," he said. "The Monroe County Democratic Committee discussed with me how my background makes me a suitable candidate."

"I work with people on a one-on-one basis in finding peaceful ways to resolve conflicts, which can be a great asset," said the Northeast Pennsylvania Public Safety Chiefs Association's Humanitarian Award winner and married father of four. "It's been a passion of mine ever since high school, when I first became interested in law enforcement, politics and community affairs."

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