Becoming the next Chautauqua County Court judge is now a growing reality for district attorney David Foley, who this week garnered the endorsements of all four major political parties.

Foley, who declared his candidacy in July following the Hon. John T. Ward’s decision to retire after 22 years, will now run unopposed as the Republican, Democratic, Conservative and Independence party candidate in the Nov. 3 election.

“I’m obviously very pleased,” Foley said. “It makes me proud to think that they’re backing who they think is the most qualified to take over the county court judge spot.”

Foley said he will continue to manage cases and his staff until the end of 2015; after which, his assistant district attorney, John Zuroski, will become acting district attorney until an official appointment by the governor or the next election in November 2016.

“I love my office and my staff,” Foley said. “But you’re always looking for different challenges. I’ve been the DA now for a decade and was a prosecutor for 10 years prior to that. It’s nice to think that I can move on to something different with new challenges.”

Foley was appointed Chautauqua County district attorney in 2005 and later elected to a four-year term the same year. He has since been reelected twice and worked on several notable cases, including the prosecution of Ralph “Bucky” Phillips in 2005, Anthony “Rob” Taglinetti in 2013 and Davide Coggins in 2014.

“There’s always some hesitation when you need to make decisions that are going to change your life, but I’ve always thought when an opportunity presents itself and you don’t take, it will never come back,” Foley said. “So this is a good time in my life, it’s a wonderful opportunity and I look forward to the change.”