Court ruling sets Democratic primary in D.A. race

Bill San Antonio

A primary for the Democratic nomination for Nassau County district attorney will proceed next month, as Acting D.A. Madeline Singas has dropped her case against Michael Scotto challenging the validity of petition signatures he filed to be placed on the ballot.

Scotto had submitted more than 6,000 signatures to the county Board of Elections, but a review invalidated more than 3,100 of them.

Nassau County Supreme Court Justice Jeffrey Brown accepted a judicial hearing report that indicated Scotto had received 3,241 legal signatures, exceeding the minimum 2,000 to be placed on the ballot for a Sept. 10 primary.

Singas submitted more than 26,000 petition signatures, according to campaign spokesman Isaac Goldberg.

In a statement, Goldberg said: “Madeline Singas is the only candidate in this race who spent years as Kathleen Rice’s second-in-command and she is continuing that tough and aggressive legacy as Acting District Attorney. The fact that over 60 percent of Mr. Scotto’s signatures were fraudulent or otherwise invalid proved that the challenge was necessary and justifiable to preserve the integrity of the democratic process.”

The Scotto campaign in a statement called on Singas to participate in two debates against him prior to the primary and alleged she is campaigning “as if she has been coronated by the Democratic Party.”

Singas, the acting district attorney since Rice, the former district attorney, was sworn into Congress, was endorsed by the Nassau County Democratic Committee in May.

The winner of the primary will face Republican Kate Murray, the Town of Hempstead supervisor. 

In other developments:

• Murray received the endorsement of the Port Authority Police Benevolent Association, which represents 1,600 officers.

“Kate Murray’s commitment to the law enforcement profession and the people of Nassau County is commendable,” said Paul Nunziato, president of the Port Authority Police Benevolent Association, in a statement. “The police officers of the PAPD take great pride in the frontline leadership we provide for the high profile facilities we protect. Above all, we respect the rule of the law and we believe very strongly that the job of ensuring the safety of our fellow citizens is perhaps the most sacred responsibility in our society.”

Murray has also been endorsed by Nassau County’s Police Benevolent Association, Detectives Association and Police Superior Officers Association, among others.

“I am honored that the Port Authority Police Benevolent Association has joined with other law enforcement associations to give me their endorsement, recognizing my background and leadership record,” Murray said in a statement. “Working together with all law enforcement agencies, we will ensure that our county is the safest in the nation.”

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