Previous Offices Held
Elected by my peers on the Maine Criminal Justice Academy’s board to serve as vice chair in 2016 and chair from 2017-2024.
Top Three Priorities
1. Public safety and accountability: Ensure deputies have training, resources and leadership to protect York County and maintain the highest standards of integrity. 2. Community trust: Build stronger relationships between the sheriff’s office and communities with transparency, accessibility and consistent communication. 3. Professional leadership and modernization: Recruit, retain and develop personnel while modernizing policies, technology, training and operations to create a more effective Sheriff’s Office.
Why are you running?
Editor's note: Pellerin withdrew from the race on Sept. 23; his name will still appear on the ballot, and his responses to our questions follow below. I’m running for York County sheriff because I believe York County deserves fresh, accountable and forward-thinking leadership. After more than three decades in law enforcement, I’ve learned that effective policing starts with earning the trust of the community and supporting the men and women who serve. I want to bring my experience, integrity and commitment to professional leadership to the Sheriff’s Office and make it an organization York County can be proud of.
What is the biggest challenge facing your town/county? The biggest opportunity?
Biggest challenge: Maintaining public safety while responding to complex issues like staffing, substance use, mental health, homelessness and changing community expectations. Opportunity: Build a modern, collaborative sheriff’s office and strengthen partnerships with local police departments, communities, schools and service providers. By investing in people, training, technology and prevention, we can improve regional public safety and make the sheriff’s office a trusted resource for everyone in York County.
If you could change one thing about how the town/county functions, what would it be and why?
I would improve coordination and communication among York County’s law enforcement agencies and municipal leaders. The sheriff’s office should complement, not compete with, our local agencies. By sharing resources, training, technology, intelligence and specialized capabilities, we can strengthen public safety countywide. My goal would be to build partnerships based on trust and mutual respect, creating a more unified, efficient and professional public safety system for all of York County.
Do you support more development – i.e. more housing construction and business building in your town/county? Why or why not?
Yes. I support responsible development that recognizes York County’s need for housing, economic growth and a strong workforce. But development must be balanced with infrastructure, transportation, schools, emergency services and public safety. My role wouldn’t be to dictate development policy but to ensure public safety agencies have a voice in the planning process. Smart, sustainable growth can strengthen our communities without compromising the quality of life that makes York County special.