Meet The Candidates: Todd Kaminsky Runs For Nassau County DA

LONG BEACH, NY — Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 2. And with voting just around the corner, Patch is reaching out to candidates across Nassau County to find out why they're running for office, and what they hope to achieve for residents.

State Sen. Todd Kaminsky, 43, is running for district attorney in Nassau County after the previous office holder, Madeline Singas, resigned this year to become an associate judge on the State Court of Appeals.

The Long Beach Democrat will square off against Anne Donnelly, a 57-year-old prosecutor and Republican from Garden City, in the Nov. 2 election. It's a race that has gotten plenty of attention on Long Island these last few months, with both candidates trading barbs over each other's crime-fighting background, as well as the recent changes to New York's bail laws.

Spending more than 30 years working in the office she hopes to run, Donnelly has continuously accused Kaminsky of writing legislation that loosened bail restrictions in the state. Her campaign says the reform, which does away with cash bail for many lower-level and nonviolent crimes, has led to an increase in crime.

Kaminsky, however, says he didn't write the bail reform law and, in that same breath, accuses his opponent of lying to Long Islanders.

Before becoming a state senator, Kaminsky spent 10 years as a local prosecutor — first working under Singas as an assistant district attorney in Queens County's Domestic Violence Bureau, and later working on gun crimes, robberies, and burglaries in the Felony Trial Bureau.

In 2008, he joined the Justice Department as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York.

You can learn more about Kaminsky below, or by clicking here.

Why are you seeking elective office?

I've prepared my entire life to be District Attorney. I love Nassau County. I grew up here. I'm raising my two young sons here. I am committed to keeping them — and the other Nassau County families — safe.

As an assistant district attorney, federal prosecutor, and legislator, I have always prioritized public safety and delivered justice for our communities. As DA, I will protect our families from violent crime, taxpayers from fraud and corruption, and the human rights of every New Yorker.

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

Gun violence. As District Attorney, I will beef up how the office handles and tackle getting guns off our street.

Just last year, Nassau County Police confiscated at least 22 illegal guns taken after a massive firearms bust in the Hempstead-Roosevelt area. I will use my experience as a federal prosecutor who led large-scale investigations and prosecutions to create a new Illegal Gun Unit staffed by Nassau County prosecutors who now handle guns, gangs, and narcotics cases from the major crimes and homicide bureaus.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

I am the only candidate to have prosecuted any corruption cases at all, successfully putting away both Republicans and Democrats for charges of corruption, including Senator Espada and Congressmember Grimm. I will take corruption seriously, going after those who have defrauded taxpayers — unlike my opponent who looked the other way as corruption ran rampant in Nassau.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I am an award-winning prosecutor who has spent my career serving the public.

After attending NYU School of Law, I spent 10 years as a local and federal prosecutor working hand in glove with law enforcement to keep our streets safe. First, as an Assistant District Attorney with the Queens County District Attorney's Office working under Madaleine Singas in the Domestic Violence Bureau, and later moving to the Felony Trial Bureau working on gun crimes, robberies, and burglaries.

In 2008, I joined the Department of Justice as a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York. As a federal prosecutor, I successfully tried some of New York's most high-profile cases, putting away violent criminals such as drug kingpins and gang leaders. I uncovered and led the investigation against Jimmy "Henchman" Rosemund for drug trafficking, obstruction of justice, firearms violations, and other financial crimes associated with his position as leader of the Rosemund Narcotic Enterprise, a major drug trafficking organization.

I was promoted to Deputy Chief of the Public Integrity Section, where I oversaw investigations and prosecutions of corrupt politicians — from both political parties — who betrayed the public's trust. I successfully prosecuted then-State Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada on federal corruption charges for embezzling money from federally funded healthcare clinics. I also led the investigation of then-Congressman Michael Grimm who was eventually convicted of federal tax evasion.

For my dedicated work as a prosecutor, I was awarded the "True American Hero Award" by the Federal Drug Agents Foundation, the "Law Enforcement Teamwork Award," and the "Federal Prosecutor Award."

I have a wide-ranging legal experience investigating and prosecuting cases including, but not limited to, domestic abusers, child abusers, illegal pharmacy operators, gun crimes, and white-collar criminals from insurance to mortgage frauds.

Editor's note: The candidate's responses have been lightly edited for clarity.