Records obtained by The Citizen reveal that officials in the Town of Cato sought to have Supervisor-elect Jody Snyder arrested two years before her surprise write-in election victory in October.
The investigation, conducted by the Cayuga County Sheriff’s Office, centered on an incident that occurred on June 8, 2023. According to records, Snyder’s son, Allen Holdridge, removed three trailers of gravel from the town highway garage using his mother’s pickup truck. The gravel was loaded with a backhoe operated by town staff, including Highway Superintendent Gary Cole. Surveillance footage shows Cole speaking with Holdridge during the process.
Current Supervisor Charles Ray told investigators that Holdridge did not pay for the gravel and did not have permission to take it. Ray, who contacted law enforcement through the town’s attorneys, said he wanted the issue addressed legally rather than internally. Holdridge, who works part-time plowing for the town, told investigators he believed the gravel was publicly available and intended for his driveway.
Cole later told investigators he “didn’t even think anything of it at the time,” but acknowledged it likely should not have been allowed. Records show Cole later paid restitution to the town.
The Cayuga County District Attorney’s Office ultimately declined to pursue charges against Snyder, Holdridge, or Cole, despite pressure from town officials to charge Snyder for allowing her son to use her vehicle.
The matter resurfaced in October 2025 after a “concerned town resident” requested records related to the gravel incident. Former Supervisor Ray, who was running for reelection against Snyder at the time, provided The Citizen with surveillance still images and a timeline of events. Ray, who had served as town supervisor since 2000, lost the election to Snyder by a 419–165 margin and declined further comment on the records.
Snyder, who previously served alongside Ray as town clerk for 23 years, did not respond to requests for comment.
The Town of Cato has experienced continued turnover and controversy in recent years, including Snyder’s resignation earlier this year and subsequent resignations by her successors in the town clerk position. Those issues, along with other community concerns, contributed to Snyder and fellow write-in challengers Dave Berlinski and Wendy House unseating incumbents in this fall’s election.
Have all the Finger Lakes news from Finger Lakes News Radio delivered to your email every morning for FREE! Sign up by clicking here
