Raymond Pignone is reporting for Columbia-Greene Media Columbia County District Attorney Paul Czajka [CHAI-kah] Thu., Jan. 19, announced he will not seek reelection in 2023. “As this, my fifth, nonconsecutive term as district attorney expires, and as I finish 35 years in elected office, I inform you that I will not be a candidate for district attorney in 2023,” he said. Czajka, 68, then took the opportunity to promote Ryan Carty, the current deputy chief assistant district attorney, as his successor. He said, “Ryan Carty has done an outstanding job working in my office for several years. Having prosecuted more murder cases and other serious felonies than any other prosecutor in recent memory, Ryan has the experience, leadership abilities and prosecutorial skills to keep our county the wonderful place we all call home.” Czajka, a lifelong Republican, has no immediate plans to reenter politics, hinting that he wants to spend more time with his family. Columbia County Democratic Committee Chairman Sam Hodge recognized Czajka’s years of public service. “I wish him the best in this next chapter,” Hodge said. “It is time for change at the District Attorney’s Office, ...” Czajka served as DA from 1988 until 1994, then elected county judge in 2004. He left the bench in 2011 to return to the DA's office. Czajka was born in Hudson and raised on his family’s dairy farm in Livingston. He received his undergraduate degree from SUNY Albany and his law degree from the Western New England University School of Law. He served as an assistant district attorney from 1981-85 and as a county public defender from 1986-87. Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.