News release
CHAMPION — Brian Peck, a businessman, lifelong Jefferson County resident and Champion town supervisor, today announced his candidacy for Jefferson County treasurer.
The four-year position is up for election in 2023. The 45-year-old registered Republican will seek the Conservative line in addition to his party’s line.
“The Jefferson County treasurer’s office has violated the public’s trust by its lax oversight of the public’s money,” said Peck. “If elected, I am committed to re-establishing that trust and adding two additional pillars — transparency and technology.”
Peck, who started Coughlin Printing at age 25 and grew the business to 14 employees, has the expertise to manage an office and protect every dollar as if it were his own.
“The treasurer’s role is to keep the legislative body and county administrator apprised of where we are, where we’re going and what pitfalls or windfalls may be along the way,” said Peck. “I intend to be highly visible and work in tandem with our lawmakers for the financial health of this county. I also believe this transparency will help repair any public trust that was broken when lax oversight by our current office holder allowed an employee to steal $11,000 over the course of several months.”
Peck will draw on his experience in government, business and the New York Guard to find ways to modernize the treasurer’s office, using technological upgrades to both enhance the taxpayer’s experience and provide better accounting of debits and receipts.
The Champion resident is currently chief of staff to Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush, but has served as state Sen. Patricia Ritchie’s director of operations. He is a sergeant in the New York Guard where he is the chief signal NCO of the 10th Area command and an EMT who has volunteered with the Great Bend Fire Department and Lewis County Search and Rescue.
Peck holds a master’s degree in counseling. He taught ethics and served as associate dean at a small private college. He’s a member of the Jefferson Community College Foundation Board and the Alumni Advisory Council. He serves his faith community as an elder at Parkside Bible Church. He lives in Champion with his wife, Sarah, and two sons, Luke and Ethan.
“Sarah and I remain heavily invested in the north country,” he said. “We started businesses here, grew our family here and sought jobs and better opportunities here. I am proud of my service in the New York guard, in governmental operations and in Champion and I see this new role as a continued effort to make Jefferson County an attractive place to live and work.”