New McKean County Sheriff Brad Mason is starting his term in
office surrounded by some familiar faces.

On Monday, he explained that the only staff member who left with
the retirement of Sheriff Donald Morey is part-time deputy Clair
Butler.

“As far as I know, from talking to Clair, he has retired from
the part-time position,” Mason explained. Butler confirmed that
Monday afternoon, saying he had officially retired in 2003 but came
back to work part-time as a favor to Morey.

Butler will continue, on a temporary basis, working for the
courthouse security department, but will not get recommissioned as
a deputy, he explained.

The other staff members – Chief Deputy Joe Dzubak and deputies
Julia Brechtel, David Engman and Rob Shipman – are remaining with
the sheriff’s department.

“Including the chief deputy, we have four full-time,” Mason
said. Deputy Steve Smith, who is also full-time, is currently
deployed to Iraq with the National Guard. “It’s unknown when he’ll
return,” Mason said.

Shipman was hired as temporary full-time under Morey to cover
Smith’s position.

“I’d like to keep him on,” Mason said.

Mason was working part-time in the sheriff’s department before
he took office. With him taking office and with Butler leaving,
there are two part-time vacancies.

“I’m hoping to eliminate two part-time positions and have Deputy
Shipman take on those duties,” Mason said.

He added that Dzubak, who had planned to retire at the end of
2005, has asked to stay on for a while. Mason agreed, saying he has
no need to replace him.

Meanwhile, in the near future, Mason said he will continue with
the duties that Morey had performed as sheriff.

“I’m just going to do the work the sheriff is doing now and try
to streamline things and make sure I serve the taxpayers of McKean
County,” he said. “That’s who I work for.”

He is still in favor of the commissioners returning the McKean
County Jail to the sheriff’s department, but said he has heard
nothing official from the commissioners regarding his request.

“I’ve had a lot of people stop me on the street and call me at
my house in support of my views,” he said. “I haven’t had any
negative response. People know my position.”

Mason believes the county could save money by putting the
sheriff’s department in charge of the jail again, and has publicly
encouraged people to voice their opinions to the commissioners on
the matter.