NORWICH – On Monday, Chenango County Treasurer William E. Evans announced his plans to retire at the end of this year after serving in county government for 24 years. 

Evans cited increasing demands for attention to his family’s auction business as well as his desire to spend more time with his children and 10 grandchildren.

The Chenango County Republican Committee has tapped Town of Sherburne Supervisor and former financial executive William C. Craine to run for election to the post in November. Both men are members of the Republican party.

Craine, who is 62, was elected to supervisor last fall after a long hiatus from county government. He was Sherburne supervisor from 1974 to December 1979 and Chairman of the Chenango County Board of Supervisors in 1976, 1977 and 1978. During his six-year tenure, he was a member of a number of committees, serving as chairman of the Finance Committee in 1979.

In January, Craine nearly unseated longtime board Chairman Richard B. Decker, R-N. Norwich, after being nominated to the position during the county government’s annual organizational meeting. All but one of the county’s Democrats and even two Republicans voted for him.