Solages: I'm Staying In Office

Nasau County Legis. Carrie Solages, who was arrested last week and charged with assaulting his girlfriend, wrote on Facebook late last week that he has no intention of stepping down from his seat.

Solages was arrested last Wednesday after a late-night argument with his girlfriend turned physical, police say. He was charged with third-degree assault and endangering the welfare of a child.

But on Facebook, Solages declared his innocence. "Dear friends, Pls know that the accusations raised against me are false," he wrote. "I am innocent and will have my day in court. I will continue to serve my constituency as I've done."

Solages, a Democrat from Elmont, is serving his third term representing District 3, which comprises Elmont, Valley Stream, South Floral Park, Inwood and portions of Lawrence and North Woodmere.

In another complication for the case, Norma Gonsalves, the legislature's presiding officer, has asked District Attorney Madeline Singas, also a Democrat, to recuse herself from persecuting the case. In a letter written to Singas, Gonsalves asked for her recusal based on statements Solages's girlfriend allegedly made about his influence over the courts and police as a county legislator. Additionally, she said that Solages's position as a sitting legislator who can vote on the budget of the DA's office will "taint the process."

"Your recusal will be a strong statement of your commitment to empowering abused women to face their abusers and in protecting the integrity of your office," Gonsalves wrote. "Conversely, failure to recuse and disqualify your office, will erode the public perception of fairness and embolden abusers to continue the cycle of abuse without a just consequence, leaving abused women in the chokehold of fear from their abusers."

But Singas's office said the district attorney does not plan to comply with Gonsalves's request.

"This office has successfully prosecuted other public officials without conflict, and there is none presented here," said Spokeswoman Miriam Sholder. "Any conflict faced by a member of the legislature in the performance of their duties should be addressed by the legislature."

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