PALMYRA, N.Y. -- Police have arrested the Republican candidate for Palmyra mayor just days before the election.
State police say 58-year old David Husk is charged with five felony counts of falsifying business records and five counts of misdemeanor petit larceny.
“I realize this comes to a shock to a lot of people," said Wayne County District Attorney Richard Healy. "But again, that’s why I want to reiterate it’s an allegation at this point, he hasn’t been convicted. And I’m going to have the grand jury review the case to determine whether he should be charged or prosecuted.”
Police say Husk allegedly falsified time cards while employed at Breen's Grocery Store in Palmyra.
“What’s unusual about is that he’s a political official, we don’t see that very often – who has an election in several days, that’s unusual," Healy said. "And this kind of charge we don’t see that very often, with an employee allegedly misusing hours. Generally that’s handled in-house by the employers, it doesn’t normally come to me.”
The case still has to wind its way through the legal system. But people in Palmyra say in the meantime, it’s putting voters in a tough position.
"It’s sad because the little people suffer, and then you think, ‘Who can you trust anymore?’" said Bridget Whitenight. "But if the person did wrong, they’ve got to prove it, we should not condemn.”
Some question the timing of the arrest and see parallels on a national scale.
“With what’s going on with the presidential election, you just wonder," said Joe Hecht. "I don’t want to say it’s something that was purposefully brought forward now, but it’s just too coincidental."
Husk is running unopposed in Tuesday's election.
“Hopefully for the future it will wake up the community of Palmyra to put forth other names in the hat," Hecht said.
Husk is currently the Palmyra deputy mayor and his brother-in-law is the mayor. He’s due back in court in December.