Raymond Pignone reports for Columbia-Greene Media that Ryan Carty announced last week that he is running for Columbia County District Attorney, shortly after his current boss, DA Paul Czajka, said he would not pursue a sixth term. Republican Carty, 33, has been with the DA's office since 2015 and was elevated to deputy chief district attorney in 2020. He is looking to secure the GOP and Conservative lines on the ballot. Czajka endorsed Carty as his successor and called him “an outstanding prosecutor.” Carty said on January 20, that he will seek the job pledging to keep public safety his primary focus. “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,” he said. Carty was born and raised in Columbia County and is a graduate of Ichabod Crane High School. He is a graduate of Syracuse University and received a law degree from Albany Law School. In his spare time, he coaches youth volleyball for the Legion Volleyball Club. Columbia County Republican Party Chair Gregory Fingar said last week he expects more people to come forward and announce their candidacies. He said the party caucuses to be held later this year will determine who gets the nomination. Columbia County Democratic Party Chair Sam Hodge said his committee is actively looking for candidates and intends to "vigorously contest this race." Read the full story at HudsonValley360 [dot] com.