NORWICH – The race for Chenango County Sheriff appears to have only a single contestant so far. Tuesday, the county’s Board of Elections confirmed that one petition had been taken out for the post.

Republican Commissioner Harriet Jenkins and Democratic Commissioner Carol A. Franklin said the only petition retrieved from the office as of yesterday afternoon was taken by newly-appointed Chenango County Sheriff Ernest R. Cutting Jr.

The county Clerk’s Office confirmed Tuesday morning it had received an order from Judge W. Howard Sullivan appointing former Undersheriff Cutting to the vacant sheriff’s position on an interim basis.

Cutting resigned from his undersheriff’s position Monday so he could be eligible for the position in compliance with the federal Hatch Act. That same day, former Sheriff Thomas Loughren stepped down. He has accepted a position as police chief on an Indian reservation in Florida, leaving two years into his latest four-year term.

Interested candidates seeking the office could still take out a petition.