Jarrid Blades, former Ulster County and Monroe County Assistant District Attorney, announced that he’s seeking the Democratic nomination to run for Ulster County District Attorney.

Born and raised in Ellenville and an alumni of Ellenville High School, Blades graduated with honors from Hobart College in Geneva, NY, and received his J.D. from Syracuse University College of Law.

Upon graduation from Syracuse University College of Law, Blades served as an Assistant DA at the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office, in the local courts bureau, prosecuting cases, conducting legal research, drafting motions, negotiating case dispositions with defense attorneys, and preparing civilian and law enforcement witnesses for hearings and trials. In 2017, Blades came back home to serve in the Ulster County District Attorney’s Office as an Assistant DA, where he prosecuted misdemeanors and felonies throughout the county, including nearly every local justice court, Kingston City Court, Ulster County Court and Supreme Court. Blades prosecuted a wide array of cases involving narcotics, illegal and stolen firearms, arson, violent assaults, burglaries and domestic violence.

He was recruited in 2019 by Ulster County Sheriff Juan Figueroa to serve as the Office of the Sheriff’s Chief Civil Administrator and the Commander of the Ulster Regional Gang Enforcement Narcotics Team (URGENT). In 2022, with the New York State Attorney General’s Office Organized Crime Task Force, URGENT conducted the biggest drug and weapons seizure in the history of Ulster County.

Recognizing that compassion does not have to undercut law and order, Blades has both collaborated with ORACLE (Opioid Response as County Law Enforcement) to offer treatment to people suffering from addiction and has taken down drug kingpins.

“My experience as a prosecutor and as a member of the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office has prepared me to effectively enact positive change in our community,” said Blades. “I am committed to holding violent offenders and those who threaten our community accountable. I am also committed to restorative justice, drug courts and mental health services. I believe that an innovative and fair legal system leads to a safe and secure county. In partnership with law enforcement and the community, we can get this done.”

Blades is the second candidate to enter the race for Ulster County DA. Last week, former DA candidate Mike Kavanaugh announced his intent to run. Incumbent David Clegg has not announced his intentions.