Republican Tom Loftus announced his intentions to run for the office of Erie County Executive this weekend.
Loftus is about to begin his 19th year as an employee at the Erie County Prison, and says the county needs an executive who is familiar with the county prison system.
"I think it's about time we get somebody in that leadership that knows it very well," he said. "So we can finally put this all behind us and not just hope that it goes away."
Loftus is a former Lawrence Park Commissioner.