Yassky Will Make Brooklyn DA Bid If Hynes Opts Out

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The New York Sun

Council Member David Yassky said yesterday that he would likely cede his council seat and run for Kings County district attorney if reports were true that Charles Hynes was opting not to run for re-election.


Yesterday Crain’s reported that there was speculation that Mr. Hynes, who was elected as Brooklyn DA in 1989 and is currently serving his fourth term, would not be running for a fifth term next year.


A spokesman for Mr. Hynes, Morty Matz denied the report last night, calling it “absolutely ridiculous.”


“It’s not true,” Mr. Matz said during a brief phone interview. “Everybody knows he’s going to run again. He’s holding fund-raisers. He’s doing all sorts of stuff in the community. There is no reason for him not to run.”


Mr. Matz also pointed out that Mr. Hynes recently hired political strategist Doug Schoen to help run his campaign and has several campaign events planned.


The DA, has, however, been harshly criticized over his probe of borough Democratic leaders, and his alleged selective prosecution of political enemies. Last year he indicted the Kings County Democratic Party leader, Clarence Norman, on dozens of charges that he stole from the state.


Some observers of the Brooklyn Democratic machine predicted that the pursuit of the party leader by Mr. Hynes would create a backlash against him when he makes his 2005 re-election bid.


“If he is not running for re-election I will certainly run for that seat,” said Mr. Yassky, who in late campaign finance board filing reported raising $600,000. But, in the next breath, he added: “I haven’t yet made the final decision to challenge him.”


Other potential candidates for Brooklyn district attorney include Arnold Kriss, a former deputy police commissioner who practices law in Manhattan; Mark Peters, a former aide to state Attorney General Eliot Spitzer; state Senator John Sampson; federal Judge Sterling Johnson; and Brooklyn lawyer Paul Wooten.


If Mr. Yassky does run for district attorney, there are several Brooklyn civic leaders, including the borough’s Chamber of Commerce President, Kenneth Adams, ready to run for his vacated council seat.


The New York Sun

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