By Dan Murphy
The race for Westchester district attorney has heated up this winter season, with all of the attention and focus on the upcoming democratic primary, where incumbent D.A. Anthony Scarpino will face a tough challenge from MSNBC commentator and former Assistant U.S. Attorney Mimi Rocah.
Scarpino recently picked up endorsement from two prominent Westchester democrats: County Clerk Tim Idoni and State Sen. Shelley Mayer.
“I’m honored to endorse my friend Tony Scarpino for re-election as Westchester district attorney,” said Idoni. “Tony has served Westchester County for decades. He has proven to be one of the most progressive district attorneys in New York State and his vision for the office has led to a 20 percent reduction in violent crime during his tenure. I urge my fellow Westchester Democrats to join me in voting for Tony Scarpino in the Democratic primary on Tuesday, June 23.”
“I am proud to endorse District Attorney Tony Scarpino for re-election,” added Mayer. “Tony has been a devoted servant of the diverse communities of Westchester for decades. He brings a firm and steady hand to the District Attorney’s Office and a progressive vision of justice. The School Safety Commission he created has made classrooms across Westchester safer and more secure and is a model for other communities. He’s also taken decisive action to remove guns from our county. I encourage all Westchester Democrats to vote for Tony Scarpino on primary Day, Tuesday, June 23.”
Rocah recently held a sold-out fundraiser in Scarsdale attended by more than 250 people, raising more than $250,000. At that event, Rocah’s former boss, former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara, was the special guest and gave his endorsement to Rocah.
Rocah served under Bharara for eight of the 16 years she was an assistant U.S. attorney. Bharara promoted Rocah several times within the office, culminating in her appointment to run the Westchester office of the Southern District of New York in White Plains.
“There’s no one better prepared to take on the job of Westchester district attorney than my friend and former colleague, Mimi Rocah,” said Bharara. “I appointed her to be the Justice Department’s top federal prosecutor in Westchester, and I have complete confidence she will be effective as Westchester’s (and my) next district attorney. Mimi is a tough prosecutor who’s not afraid to take on violent criminals or corrupt politicians, but she’s also thoughtful and compassionate in her approach to justice.”
“It is an honor to have Preet’s support as I run for Westchester D.A.,” said Rocah. “He has always been a mentor to me and he has shaped my view of how prosecutors should approach their job by his advice to ‘do the right thing, for the right reasons, in the right way,’ and by setting an example of integrity and fairness in his conduct. At every level of government, we can do more to restore the rule of law and address the damage done by the Trump Administration. I’m running for Westchester D.A. to be the proactive and effective D.A. our county needs to fight for the values, principles and issues that define us as Democrats.”
Both Scarpino and Rocah bring impressive resumes to the race. Most recently, Rocah was the Pace University School of Law’s distinguished fellow in criminal justice and a legal analyst for MSNBC and NBC News. Rocah lives in Scarsdale with her husband, two children and their rescue dog.
Scarpino, in his four years as D.A., has balanced the line between public safety and progressive values on the tenets of fairness and equality. Under his watch, Westchester has seen a 20 percent reduction in violent crime and a dramatic shift away from practices that criminalize poverty and disproportionately impact people of color.
