Latest news with #Ritts
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
MacBride narrowly defeats incumbent Ritts in Ontario County GOP primary for DA
Jason MacBride has edged out incumbent District Attorney James Ritts in the June 24 Ontario County Republican Primary, according to unofficial results released by the county Board of Elections on July 1. MacBride won by a narrow margin of 103 votes, receiving 2,191 votes (51.18%) to Ritts' 2,088 votes (48.77%) after all in-person and mail-in ballots were counted. The Board of Elections is currently conducting a full recanvass of both mail-in and in-person ballots to verify the results before official certification. A final 'Statement of Canvass' will be filed once that process is complete. Ritts, who has served as DA since 2017 and is seeking a third term, responded to the results with a strongly worded statement. "I'm disappointed to have come up short in the Republican Primary by 103 votes," Ritts said, "but I'm looking forward to running in the General Election where we'll have far greater voter turnout." Calling MacBride a potential "public safety disaster," Ritts added: "I will not be silenced by political insiders that put politics over results." He also noted the low turnout in the primary — just under 4,300 voters, or about 5% of Ontario County's 80,000 registered voters. 'When the full population considers the candidates and votes in November, I'm optimistic that they'll deliver a different result,' Ritts said. MacBride, currently an Assistant County Attorney who prosecutes juvenile cases and advises child protection investigations, declared victory and thanked voters and supporters. 'This grassroots victory was built by neighbors talking to neighbors,' MacBride said. 'Ontario County deserves a justice system rooted in integrity, hard work, and fairness.' He also acknowledged his opponent: 'I want to acknowledge District Attorney Jim Ritts for a spirited campaign and his continued service to our community.' MacBride and Ritts will both appear on the November general election ballot, with Ritts on the Conservative Party line and MacBride running under the Truth and Justice Party. — Madison Scott is a journalist with the Democrat and Chronicle who covers breaking and trending news for the Finger Lakes Region. She has an interest in how the system helps or doesn't help families with missing loved ones. She can be reached at MDScott@ This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: MacBride defeats incumbent Ritts in Ontario County GOP primary for DA
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Primary race too close to call: What happens next in the Ontario County DA battle?
Jason MacBride has taken the lead over the incumbent Ontario County District Attorney, James Ritts, in the Republican primary DA race, according to the county Board of Elections' unofficial results. MacBride received 2,179 votes after the polls closed on June 24, and Ritts received 2,064 votes. What does this mean, and what happens next in the race According to the Ontario County Board of Elections, over 4,000 Ontario County voters cast a ballot in the June 24, 2025, Primary Election. The unofficial election results that were posted after the polls closed represent the majority of the ballots cast by those voters, making up the in-person ballots, early voters and mail-in ballots, absentee, military and overseas voters, the county BOE said in a statement. These results also include 256 mail-in ballots (13 Democratic and 244 Republican) that the BOE received by June 22 and the 20 additional mail-in ballots (1 Democratic and 19 Republican), the board has received since then. As of June 25, the county board said they were still waiting on 361 ballots (20 Democratic and 341 Republican) that were mailed to county voters but not yet returned. The election results are not considered official until all ballots are received, counted and the results are certified. New York State's Election Law allows the county to continue receiving mail-in ballots through July 1, 2025. These ballots can only be added to the election results if they are postmarked on or before June 24, 2025. Every returned mail-in ballot will get reviewed by a bipartisan team before it is counted in the results, the Ontario County BOE said. The county board said it expects the tabulation of remaining mail-in and Affidavit Ballots to be completed by July 1. When the tabulation is completed, the county said the results will be certified, and the official 2025 Primary Election results will be released to the public. "The Board recognizes public interest in the outcomes of these election contests and the entire staff is working diligently to complete mandated post-election reviews, testing and audits as quickly as possible," the Ontario County Board of Elections wrote in a statement released on June 25. "We appreciate the public's patience as we complete this process." In a statement released after the votes were tallied Tuesday night, Ritts said the initial unofficial results "show us trailing by a very close 115-vote margin out of nearly 4,300 votes cast.' 'It is too early to concede the race, as we should wait for any standard review procedures by the Board of Elections, as well as additional absentee ballots to be received by mail in the coming days,' Ritts stated. According to the Ontario County BOE, NY Election Law 9-208 mandates a full manual recount of the ballots in elections with the margin of victory between candidates being less than .5 percent of votes or less than 20 votes. The county board stated that if any recounts are required, they will not be scheduled until the week of July 14. The unofficial results in the Ontario County DA primary that are currently posted on the BOE website still show a 115-vote margin victory between MacBride and Ritts. On Thursday MacBride posted an update to his FaceBook writing, "While the results are still unofficial and every vote must be counted, we stand by our message: Republican voters made it clear they want a District Attorney who is hardworking, respected across the criminal justice system, and committed to doing what's right for victims and for our community." MacBride said he remains patient and respectful of the election process. Both candidates will be on the general election ballot in November, regardless of the GOP primary result. Ritts has secured the Conservative Party line while MacBride secured the Truth and Justice line. To learn more about the electoral process, visit or call the Ontario County Board of Elections at 585-396-4005. — Madison Scott is a journalist with the Democrat and Chronicle who covers breaking and trending news for the Finger Lakes Region. She has an interest in how the system helps or doesn't help families with missing loved ones. She can be reached at MDScott@ This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Primary race too close to call: What happens next in the Ontario County DA battle?
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Yahoo
Special prosecutor will be assigned to former Geneva officer's case
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — A special prosecutor is being assigned to the case of Michael Tapscott, the former Geneva police officer accused of selling drugs on duty. Ontario County DA James Ritts announced that his opponent in this year's election, Ontario County Attorney Jason MacBride, exchanged texts with Tapscott. It was alleged that MacBride was seeking Tapscott and the Geneva Police Department's endorsement for DA. The texts, according to Ritts, happened over several months before Tapscott was arrested. Ritts said that, in light of these accusations, the DA's Office will seek a special prosecutor from outside Ontario County to ensure all defendants are brought to justice without impropriety. 'Although I am disappointed there is a need for a Special Prosecutor in this case, prosecutorial ethics require me to take this action,' Ritts said in a statement. News 8 has reached out to the DA's Office and MacBride for further comment on this matter. The Ontario District Attorney's Office declined to provide any further comment and directed us to the Wayne County District Attorney, who will be the special prosecutor for the case. Tapscott, a former D.A.R.E. officer, was arrested earlier this month for allegedly selling drugs to someone at a local business in Geneva while in uniform and operating a police car. Investigators said they found evidence that Tapscott provided a form of Adderall. Tapscott was charged with fifth-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and official misconduct. He was arraigned and released on his own recognizance. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Moontower Comedy Festival brings laughs, economic boost to area
AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Moontower Comedy Festival is wrapping up its final shows in Austin, marking the end of a more than week-long celebration of comedy that has become a staple in the industry. The festival, which attracts big-name acts, has drawn approximately 65,000 attendees this year, significantly boosting the local economy, organizers said. 'We'll do something around 65,000 people in attendance of the festival,' said Jim Ritts, CEO of the Austin Theatre Alliance. The non profit runs the Paramount Theater which hosts the annual festival. The festival has grown from its humble beginnings off Congress at the State and Paramount theaters since it began in 2012. It's now in more venues, and more venues mean more people, and more money. 'We really do drive the economy around this. I think our economic contribution from all of this is somewhere between $7.5 to $10 million,' Ritts added. Despite its growth and the presence of huge stars, the festival maintains a focus on economic accessibility, ensuring that as many people as possible can enjoy the performances. 'We try to make sure that economic access isn't a barrier for being able to see comedy. So you can go to clubs and see it for $20, or buy a badge for $100 that lets you hop from club to club, as well as all the headliners,' Ritts said. As the festival concludes, organizers hint at further expansion and the potential for comedy specials to be filmed at the Paramount for platforms like Netflix or Hulu. All facts from this article were gathered by KXAN journalists. This article was converted into this format with assistance from artificial intelligence. It has been edited and approved by KXAN staff. Read about our approach to using AI tools. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Yahoo
Report: Ontario County DA employees drank alcohol during workplace party
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — The Ontario County DA's Office is facing criticism after allegations of a 'Fall Fest' party involving alcohol in the workplace. An investigation report detailed an event known as 'Fall Fest,' an alleged event held annually by the DA's Office. The report says it grew over the years from a cook-off and games during a lunch break to a day-long event involving alcohol, decorations, and karaoke. According to the report, the workplace was decorated, and employees were in costume for the November 5, 2024, event. One employee allegedly dressed up as a stripper and decorated their office to resemble the 'Bada Bing!,' a fictional strip club from 'The Sopranos.' The report also says that some employees purchased alcohol and brought it into the courthouse. Some of them admitted to bringing drinks into the jury and courtrooms. Ontario County DA Jim Ritts allegedly admitted that he drank at work after 4 p.m. the day before 'Fall Fest' and drank during last year's event. News 8 reached out to Ritts for comment. Jason MacBride, who is running for Ontario County DA, released a statement Friday morning criticizing Ritts for being 'untruthful' when questioned during the investigation into the party. MacBride says this is not about 'silly politics,' but says the residents of Ontario County deserve 'leadership rooted in'integrity, transparency, and an unwavering commitment to justice.' ONTARIO-DA-1Download Stay with News 8 WROC as we continue to update this developing story. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
