Winkley to run for Lewiston supervisor

Lewiston Porter Sentinel, September 1, 2007

Retired Lewiston Police Chief Ron Winkley has announced that he will challenge Fred Newlin to become Lewiston’s next town supervisor.

A popular and well-known figure, Winkley served as Lewiston’s police chief from 1984 to his retirement in June of this year. In his years of service he facilitated many changes, including engineering the merger of the town and village police forces in 1996. According to Winkley, he plans to run because of what he calls a “need for a different type of leadership in the supervisor’s office.”

“It just seems like Lewiston has lacked direction, and, as a result, we haven’t made progress on a number of important issues,” said Winkley. “People are tired of the political nonsense that is preventing things from getting done. We need a supervisor who puts people first and politics on the back burner.”

“In my role as police chief, the buck stopped at my desk. It was my job to get people on the same page and get things done for the people of this community,” added Winkley. “That is exactly what I’d so as supervisor.”

Winkley’s lifelong commitment to excellence in leadership and public service has been recognized by a wide variety of organizations over the years. He was most recently honored as Lewiston’s Citizen of the Year for 2007. Additionally, Buffalo State College named Winkley its Outstanding Professional in Criminal Justice for 2006, while NCCC awarded him its Distinguished Alumni Award in 2005.

“Lewiston is a jewel of Western New York because of the quality of life we enjoy here. I have spent the better part of my professional life working to make this community one that we are all proud to raise our families in,” said Winkley.

Winkley has served as member of the Niagara County Homeland Security Committee, the Traffic Safety Committee and the New York State 911 Advisory Committee. He is also a member of the New York Power Authority Jazz Festival Committee.

He is a 1976 graduate of Newfane High School. Winkley received a bachelor’s degree in criminal science from the Rochester Institute of Technology and a master’s degree in criminal justice from Niagara University. He is also a graduate of the FBI National Academy.