Citizens Union 2021 Candidate Questionnaire - Manhattan District Attorney

Citizens Union 2021 Candidate Questionnaire - Manhattan District Attorney
Dear Candidate,

Congratulations on your decision to run for Manhattan District Attorney! Citizens Union appreciates your commitment to serve the public.

In the following pages, you will find questions regarding your positions on various reform issues and your plans for office. The form includes the following sections: (1) the functions of the district attorney's office; (2) ethics, corruption, police misconduct; (3) prisons and incarcerated individuals; (4) miscellaneous.

Responses to these questions will be one of several factors Citizens Union uses to evaluate candidates running for office, and to issue our preference for the June primary. Read more about the method, principles, and criteria of the candidate evalatuion process here.

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If you wish to be considered, please submit the questionnaire no later than 48 before your interview.

If you seek our support, we will also need to schedule an interview with you as part of the evaluation process.

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If you cannot complete the questionnaire in one sitting, you can click Save and Continue Later at the bottom of every page.

Once you submit the questionnaire, you will receive a confirmation email with a PDF file containing your responses. Citizens Union will not be able to see your answers unless you submit the form. We plan to make responses to this questionnaire public on our website, printed voters directory, and other appropriate venues (your contact information will not be published).

For any questions, please email candidates@citizensunion.org

We thank you very much for your response.

GENERAL INFORMATION
Your Info
Name*

First NameMiddle NameLast Name
Seeking office:*
In which primary*
Age
Education
Occupation/Employer
Previous Offices, Campaigns and Community/Civic Involvement
Campaign Contact Information
Email*
example@example.com
Campaign Manager Name*
Campaign Manager Email*
example@example.com
Scheduler contact info (If relevant)
example@example.com
Phone Number*

Area CodePhone Number
Website
Twitter
Facebook
Affirmations
Have you completed the required campaign finance filings?*

YesNo
Are you willing to be interviewed by Citizens Union’s Local Candidates Committee?*

YesNo
(Please note: interviews are prerequisites for Citizens Union's endorsements)
Signature*

Clear

THE OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY
1. As a district attorney, you will be managing hundreds of attorneys and other staff members. Is there anything in the structure and function of the office of district attorney that you would like to see improved in order to be better positioned to prosecute criminal offenses and promote justice in your borough?
2. Are there any statewide legislative reforms that would be necessary for you to accomplish your goals as district attorney? How would you work with the legislature in Albany, especially in cases of potential disagreements?
3. Do you think there should be term limits for district attorneys?

ETHICS, CORRUPTION, AND POLICE MISCONDUCT
4. What role do you think the district attorney plays in anti-corruption efforts? If have any concrete plans, we would love to hear them.
5. To what extent would your office use the district attorney’s existing authority to investigate and monitor elected officials’ conduct in relation to issues like campaign finance compliance and proper use of government resources and influence?
6. We recognize that district attorneys are in a difficult position regarding overseeing police misconduct, as district attorneys’ offices work closely with, and rely upon, the police. How do you see the role of the district attorney in the city’s response to instances and patterns of police misconduct? What is your vision for oversight of police misconduct, and what data do you have to support your point of view?
7. During the summer of 2020, BLM protests against police brutality were repeatedly faced with a harsh response, particularly in the form of mass arrests of protesters. What is your approach in responding to mass protests and prosecuting those arrested while attending protests?

PRISONS AND INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS
8. As the city prepares to close Rikers Island and replace the complex with smaller neighborhood jails, what do you see as the potential benefits and pitfalls of the plan? Do you believe that the city should consider incarceration alternatives such as community jails?
9. What would you take consideration when recommending sentencing of a person with a felony conviction? (e.g. past history, availability of alternatives)
10. What is your opinion on pretrial detention?
11. How do you see the work of the Conviction Integrity Program under the current DA? What would be your approach and plan for this unit?

MISCELLANEOUS
12. How would you handle the various investigations related to former President Trump, currently conducted by the Manhattan DA office?
13. In light of everything we have discussed above, why do want to be a district attorney?
14. Have you ever been disciplined or had a complaint against you by an agency charged with lawyer discipline?*

YesNo
If so, please describe the situation and the punishment meted out.
15. What experience have you had, if any, with good government and reform issues? (e.g. voting and elections, campaign finance, ethics, police accountability, government transparency and oversight). If you've worked to advance these goals, we'd love to hear about it.
16. What are the top three campaign promises or goals, and what action will you take to achieve them if elected? Feel free to reference an answer above rather than restate it.
What else would you like us to know about yourself?

Please feel free to attach any additional information such as resume, campaign brochures, or issues statements.

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Please review your answers by clicking PREVIEW ANSWERS below. You can submit the questionnaire at the bottom of the preview page by clicking SUBMIT.

Once you click SUBMIT, you will receive a confirmation email with a PDF file containing your responses. If you don't see the email, please check your spam box.

If you have any further questions, you may contact us at candidates@citizensunion.org.
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Citizens Union 2021 Candidate Questionnaire - Manhattan District Attorney

GENERAL INFORMATION

Your Info

Campaign Contact Information

Affirmations

THE OFFICE OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY

ETHICS, CORRUPTION, AND POLICE MISCONDUCT

PRISONS AND INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS

MISCELLANEOUS