Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - Erie County District Attorney John Flynn hinted back in November at the idea of leaving office early after he formally announced he will not seek re-election in 2024.
That idea is now set to be reality for Flynn come the end of March.
During a press conference Thursday morning at his office in Downtown Buffalo, Flynn announced he will be leaving office as Erie County District Attorney to start a new role at the Buffalo-based law firm, Lippes Mathias LLP. Flynn's last day in office will be March 31.
"I basically fulfilled a campaign promise that I made eight years ago, when I initially ran for office back in 2016, when I said I was only going to serve two terms. I'm a believer, quite frankly personally, in term limits, and I believe two terms is enough. And I believe that I have made my mark upon this office and upon this community in my two terms," said Flynn on Thursday.
Also joining Flynn on Thursday was former New York Attorney General, now a partner with Lippes Mathias, Dennis Vacco.
Flynn says he never intended to leave office early before his term was up in December. However, he says those at Lippes Mathias wanted him on board, and it was an opportunity he could not turn down.
"After consulting with my family and consulting with the law firm, they, quite frankly, want me there sooner rather than later for business reasons. I understand that and I am all for that," Flynn said.
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Flynn is now the third District Attorney in Erie County over the last several years to have left office early. That means with Flynn leaving his office, it will be the Deputy DA that takes over as acting District Attorney until November's election.
"That happened with the last DA when Judge [Frank] Sedita left early, he left to become a judge, his first deputy, Mike Flaherty, became the acting DA, who I ultimately ran against when I was elected," Flynn said.
Flynn adds New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has the ability to appoint someone as DA for the eight months left in the term until Dec. 31.
The First Deputy District Attorney in Flynn's office at this time is Michael Keane, who has already received the unanimous endorsement of the Erie County Democratic Committee as the party's candidate for District Attorney in 2024.
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