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Town Judge Resigns, Town Board Names Successor

Town Judge Resigns, Town Board Names Successor December 13, 2023
Lake George Town Judge Brian Reichenback; Bill Ryan, whom the Lake George Town Board selected to replace retiring Town Judge Mike Stafford; and retiring Town Judge Mike Stafford.
Lake George Town Judge Brian Reichenback; Bill Ryan, whom the Lake George Town Board selected to replace retiring Town Judge Mike Stafford; and retiring Town Judge Mike Stafford.

Lake George Town Justice Mike Stafford, who was re-elected without opposition to a sixth four-year term on November 7, will resign December 31, 2023. 

Stafford announced his intention to resign on December 7. William Ryan, a partner in an Albany law firm and a resident of Lake George, has been appointed by the Lake George Town Board to fill Stafford’s unexpired term.

“I served for 20 years and although I was reelected for a sixth time, I decided the time had come for me to turn the gavel over to someone new,” said Stafford. “Only four town judges have served Lake George since 1968, all with distinction. I’m sure my successor will maintain that tradition.”

Stafford will remain of counsel to the Lake George firm of Stafford, Carr, McNally.

A Lake George native who graduated from Lake George High School, SUNY Plattsburgh and Albany Law School, Stafford was commended for his two decades of service by the Town Board and by those attending the Board’s December 7 meeting.

Among the latter was his fellow Lake George Town Judge, Brian Reichenbach.

“I’ve had the pleasure and the honor of serving with Mike Stafford for 18 years, for most of which a sign has hung in our chambers stating, ‘to administer justice without fear or favor.’ I can’t imagine anybody who has exemplified that code of conduct more fully over the last two decades than Mike Stafford,” said Judge Reichenbach.

William Ryan’s tenure as Town Judge will begin January 1, according to a resolution adopted by the Town Board stated.

“I have big shoes to fill,” Ryan told the board.  “My aim is to dispense justice fairly, evenly and with compassion. I thank you for your confidence in me.”

A graduate of Fordham University and Fordham University School of Law, Ryan is a partner in the firm of Tabner, Ryan and Keniry.

According to a biography on the firm’s website, Ryan “s one of the leading municipal attorneys in New York State.”

In addition to his professional accomplishments, the biography states, “Ryan is a former Trustee for the Albany Public Library, a past Trustee of the Albany Institute of History and Art. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Police Athletic League in Albany and the Finance Committee for the Church of All Saints. He volunteers as a Eucharistic Minister at the Church of All Saints and at St. Peter’s Hospital.”

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