MONTICELLO, NY — Former Sullivan County Judge Frank LaBuda paid a visit to the Sullivan County Board of Elections on January 23 to change his registration from Democrat to Republican.

He also issued a press release that said, in part, “Today my values and principles that have guided me throughout my whole life, whether as a soldier, as a prosecutor, as a judge, and as a father are not aligned with the current trend in the Democratic party. Currently, the Democratic party leadership has drifted far to the left, and far afield from my values and concerns for us.”

Among the beliefs he listed are the “constitutional right to protect our family and our property to the fullest extent of the second amendment” and “our constitutional right to reasonable bail for all under the eighth amendment.”

Local observers have said that LaBuda, who retired as a judge because of a state-mandated age limit of 70, is considering a run for the district attorney’s office.  The current acting district attorney, Meagan Galligan, has announced her plan to run for the office this fall as a Democrat.