Carty declares candidacy for DA

Carty, 33, has served as assistant district attorney since 2015 and has been deputy chief district attorney since 2020. He will seek the Republican and Conservative party nominations to succeed Czajka.

Czajka endorsed Carty as his successor and called him “an outstanding prosecutor.”

Carty said Friday that he will seek the job pledging to keep public safety his primary focus.

“My years in the DA’s office provided me with the experience to understand this critical job,” Carty said. “Public safety will be my number one priority, as it has been during the tenure of District Attorney Czajka. The community expects that the district attorney’s office will always be there to protect all of its citizens, including the most vulnerable.”

Carty, a Republican, was born and raised in Columbia County and is a graduate of Ichabod Crane High School. He completed his undergraduate work at Syracuse University and received his law degree from Albany Law School. In his spare time he coaches youth volleyball for the Legion Volleyball Club.

“Keeping Columbia County safe has always been important to me, as this community is where I grew up, it’s where my family lives and where I hope to start my own family,” he said. “As an assistant district attorney, I’ve prosecuted cases involving domestic violence, child sexual abuse, violent assaults and murders. I have also indicted and tried those who commit burglaries, home invasions and, most recently, catalytic converter thefts.”

Columbia County Republican Party Chairman Gregory Fingar said Friday that he expects more candidates to throw their hats in the ring and that the party caucuses later this year will determine who gets the nomination.

Fingar congratulated Czajka for his long career in law enforcement and wished him well.

“Paul felt that he was ready to step aside and begin his retirement,” Fingar said. “And it will be a well-deserved retirement. Paul worked hard as district attorney and he’s a good man. We’re going to miss him.”

On the other side of the aisle, Democrats are looking for someone to challenge Carty.

“The Democratic Party is actively seeking candidates and we intend to vigorously contest this race,” Columbia County Democratic Party Chairman Sam Hodge said Friday.

Columbia County Board of Supervisors Chairman Matt Murell, R-Stockport, weighed in on Czajka’s announcement to step down.

“It’s a shame that he’s leaving office and we will all miss him,” Murell said. “Paul has been an excellent public servant for many years and we appreciate his service to the county and the community.”

If elected, Carty pledged to work closely with all the county’s law enforcement agencies, provide in-service training for local police agencies and run the district attorney’s office without the influence and intrusion of politics. He said he will continue to support the Columbia County Regional Treatment Court team to deal with addictions.