At least three candidates are competing for two soon-to-be vacant St. Lawrence County coroner positions.

Steven M. Cary, a funeral director at O’Leary Funeral Service, Canton, and Eric Warner, a licensed funeral director and Lisbon horse farmer, announced their candidacy Tuesday.

Morristown Volunteer Fire Department Chief Kevin Crosby made a similar announcement last week.

Cary is a native of the Potsdam and Colton area who has worked in funeral service for 10 years.

Cary said he has been a licensed director for seven years and volunteered for eight years with the local fire and rescue services in Potsdam and Canton.

Cary said that his work in the coroners program as well as his making removals and transports and assisting with autopsies over the last several years has given a him a good feel for the duties and responsibilities of the job.

"When a death occurs, it’s never an easy time and having experience on both the rescue side and death care side, I am well prepared to handle all aspects of the job," he said. "This is something I have been planning to do for quite a while and I’m now at a point where I felt it was the right time to run."

Warner, is a Heuvelton native, received his funeral director license from SUNY Canton in 2002.

Warner is a member of the St. Lawrence County Draft Horse Association and raises draft horses in Lisbon. He serves as an organist at the Heuvelton Presbyterian Church and St. John’s Epsicopal Church.

He said his Lisbon residency would make him accessible to a part of the county that is not currently served.

“The current coroners are from Massena, Potsdam, and Canton. The northwest corner of the county is not represented. I would be able to provide more immediate service to this part of the county,” he said.

Warner said he is interested in the position because he believes in community service.

“I believe that is important to give back to the community I live in,” he said. “As coroner, I can offer compassion, dignity, and professionalism for the families and municipal police, fire, and rescue providers.”

Crosby is chief at the Morristown Volunteer Fire Department and Superintendent of Public Works in Morristown village.

Crosby said has served on the Morristown Fire and Rescue Company for 22 years, with 17 years as chief. Crosby has also been an Emergency Medical Technician for 21 years.

"I am pleased to announce that I will be running for one of the two open St. Lawrence County Coroner positions this year," he said. "With the pending retirement of RB Lawrence from the Coroner’s Office, I feel it is important to have a coroner serving this part of St. Lawrence County."