October 30, 2007 Tuesday
RK Edition
Bongiorno, Zugibe fight for Rockland district attorney post
BYLINE: Steve Lieberman
SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 8A
Rockland District Attorney Michael Bongiorno and Thomas Zugibe don’t agree on much as they wind down their testy campaign for the county’s top prosecutor’s job.
Bongiorno cites statistics showing how his emphasis on drug dealers, violent offenders and repeat felons has produced record-low crime levels, increased indictments and tougher prison sentences.
Zugibe tries punching holes in his opponent’s 12-year record and contends he can do better at reducing crime. He calls Bongiorno’s office “dysfunctional,” saying crime-prevention programs and corruption investigations exist more on paper than on the streets. He says plea-bargaining is overused to boost conviction numbers.
Bongiorno counters that Zugibe is out of touch, since he hasn’t prosecuted a case in more than two decades, and now distorts the facts. Bongiorno says his office’s investigations are known to the public and when it comes to negotiated pleas, judges have the final word and his office sometimes agrees and sometimes it doesn’t.
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{}Thomas Zugibe
{}Ballot lines: Democrat and Working Families
{}Born: Feb. 13, 1953
{}Occupation: Attorney
{}Political/community experience: West Haverstraw village justice, 1989-2007. Has served on the Board Directors of ARC of Rockland since 1988; Rockland County Drug Court; Rockland Community Foundation and Hudson Valley Make-A-Wish Foundation; North Rockland Rotary Club; Italian American Social Club; Just-for-Fun Recreational Baseball; Haverstraw Little League; Clarkstown Gridirons; North Rockland Soccer Association, and North Rockland Youth Hockey Association.
Education: Graduated North Rockland High School in 1971; Manhattan College in 1975 and St. John’s University School of Law with a Juris Doctor Degree in May 1979.
{}Top two things candidate would like to accomplish if elected:
- Implement community prosecution with the local police, schools and community leaders in each municipality.
- Create a special victim’s, public corruption and gang units.
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LOAD-DATE: October 31, 2007
***End Quote***
Zugibe, Thomas (1975)
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