Major Brent Davison poses at the Troop B headquarters in Ray Brook. Davison took command of Troop B in 2023. (Enterprise photo — Sydney Emerson)

RAY BROOK — State Police Troop B Commander Maj. Brent Davison is planning to run in the expected special election for the state Assembly seat being vacated by longtime representative Billy Jones. On Wednesday, he got a “full endorsement” from the only person whose vote is needed to make him the Republican candidate in the election.

Clinton County Republican Committee Chair Jerika Manning put out a statement on Wednesday, saying Davison has her “full endorsement.”

Manning said the decision to endorse came after an executive committee meeting with her town chairs and officers on Tuesday night.

“They said they had the confidence in me to make the right decision,” she said.

Manning said she decided to endorse before the race officially begins because there have been public accusations about the way she is running the candidate selection process and she wanted to put everything out in the open.

Manning said she had discussions with Davison when Jones announced his intentions to resign, but did not say if he or she initiated the conversation. In all, she said five or six potential candidates interviewed with the committee.

She said she called the other county chairs — Jason Ellis in Franklin County and Wayne Taylor in Essex County — to let them know after the meeting.

“We talked about it to some extent,” Taylor said on Wednesday.

He said the decision is still in the works with the chairs and he could not say much about the process.

The Enterprise was not able to reach Ellis by deadline for this article.

Jones’ term is set to last through the end of 2026. His plan to resign halfway through his term would trigger a special election. The race won’t start until he officially steps down, which he plans to do at the end of August.

Special elections are not run like normal elections. They do not have primaries.

Instead, the parties select their nominees based on votes from the party chairs in the three counties within the district — essentially a primary of three voters. But, for the Democrats and Republicans, the Clinton County chairs hold all the power in this process.

The chairs have their votes weighted based on how many party members their county contributes to the district. In both major parties, Clinton County carries more than 50% of the vote by itself, meaning, theoretically, the Clinton County chairs hold all the cards on who the candidates are.

With the Clinton County party chairs holding all the power in the decision of who runs to represent them on the ballot, a fight to control that power has sprung up.

Manning has been at odds with North Country Rep. Elise Stefanik over the expected special election.

Stefanik endorsed Malone Mayor and Franklin County Legislator Andrea Dumas.

Manning accused Stefanik of trying to run the chairs’ nomination from the top down and bullying them into supporting the candidate she wants.

Stefanik accused Manning of disqualifying certain candidates and attempting to nominate herself to run.

Both parties deny the other’s claims. This party infighting has created a rift.

A group of former Clinton County GOP chairs wrote an open letter in which they call on Manning to resign. The Clinton County Republican Executive Committee — made up of 15 town chairs, as well as officers — gave Manning a 100% vote of confidence in a meeting last week.

As a result of the conflict, the Clinton County GOP town chairs became more involved in the process. But they do not get a vote, as the law only allows for county chairs to vote.

To read more about the explosive start to this anticipated election, go to tinyurl.com/57vrh6s2.

The Enterprise was not able to reach Stefanik by deadline for this article.

Jones is the region’s only Democratic state representative. Democrats want to hold this seat in their party’s control. Republicans see Jones vacating it as an opportunity to secure the seat back into Republican hands. Jones’ 115th Assembly District includes all of Franklin and Clinton counties, and part of Essex County.

Republicans Ted Blazer, Steve Chilton and Nate Locke have also been discussed as potential candidates.

Democrats Bridie Farrell of Lake Placid and Plattsburgh town supervisor Michael Cashman have announced their intentions to run, too. This sets up a decision for the Democratic chairs.

Manning believes Davison can unite Republicans and win the election.

“What makes Brent truly exceptional is that he understands the real-world implications and consequences of decisions made in Albany,” Manning said. “He knows firsthand how policies affect our families, our law enforcement, our small businesses and our communities.”

She said he is retiring from his current position as Troop B commander, where he has overseen 20 state police stations across Clinton, Essex, Franklin, St. Lawrence and Hamilton counties since 2023.

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About Davison

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Davison grew up in Mooers Forks in Clinton County.

“Brent has been serving his country and his community since he was just 17 years old,” Manning said in her statement.

The Enterprise was not able to reach Davison by deadline for this article.

He enlisted in the Army in 1989.

“His resume speaks for itself,” Manning said.

Davison left active duty in 2003 and continued to serve in the U.S. Army Reserves and Vermont National Guard until 2008, when he retired with the rank of master sergeant (E-8).

He was a corrections officer for the state between 1995 and 1996 before entering the State Police Academy. He has spent 29 years in the State Police, mostly in Troop B. He is 53.

He was promoted to sergeant in 2004 and lieutenant in 2006, working in and leading numerous departments — including the Troop B Gun Investigation Unit, the plainclothes detective Bureau of Criminal Investigation and the Division of Traffic Services.

He was involved in the 2015 manhunt of Richard Matt and David Sweat after their escape from the Clinton County Correctional Facility in Dannemora, has attended the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia and was one of many troopers called upon to respond to the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the Twin Towers.

As a result of his time near ground zero, he developed throat cancer in 2018, for which he was treated. He wears a 9/11 commendation bar on his uniform.

Davison is also a permanent deacon in the Diocese of Ogdensburg.

He and his wife, Nikki, have seven children and six grandchildren. They reside in Clinton County.