Clarkstown Candidate Profile: Ascher For Town Justice

NEW CITY, NY — Rockland County has several contested races in this fall's election, including for Clarkstown Town Justice. New City Patch asked candidates in the contested races to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

David M. Ascher is running for re-election as a Clarkstown Justice. Also running for the two judgeships are Howard Gerber and Larraine Feiden. Gerber's name will appear with Ascher's on the Democratic, Conservative, Green and Working Families party lines; Feiden will be on the Republican line.

A practicing attorney, Ascher, 43, was first elected to the town court's bench in 2015.

The single most pressing issue facing our community, and what I intend to do about it.

Other than ensuring that Justice is done every single day in all the parts of the Court (Criminal, Civil, Small Claims, Traffic, Landlord/Tenant), the single most pressing issue facing all the Courts in New York State, is ensuring that the major changes, recently enacted by the State Legislature are properly implemented. These changes include drastic changes to the laws concerning the Age of Criminal Responsibility, Criminal Discovery, Setting Bail, Landlord Tenant Procedures, and ensuring Counsel at Arraignment. I, along with all the other judges in the Town, County and State have been meeting and developing plans to implement these changes. Some of these plans include being available on a Countywide basis for Centralized Arraignments. As a Member of the NYS & Rockland County Magistrates' Association, I have been working with the Town, County and State officials including the New York State Office of Court of Administration to implement these changes work not just Town-wide, but County-wide and State-wide as well.

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

Pursuant to the Judicial Ethics Rules, Judges and Candidates for Judicial Office are not permitted comment on the qualifications of opponents.

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

My training and experience as an Assistant District Attorney, Deputy Village Attorney in four (4) villages in Rockland, my time in private practice and Judicial experience has been in the Justice Courts. I have prosecuted, defended and now ruled on (as Justice) every singe type of matter over which the Clarkstown Justice Court has jurisdiction.

The best advice ever shared with me was …

Always be a leader, never a follower.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I have dedicated my career to public service. I have, and continue to ensure that every person who appears before me in the Clarkstown Justice Court gets a full and fair opportunity to have their case heard. Further, that each and every person is treated fairly, impartially, and that justice is done by a Judge who has the training and experience to properly dispense the law.
I have been Endorsed by the NYS Court Officers Assn., The Rockland County PBA, The NYS Troopers PBA, The Building & Construction Trades Council of Rockland, and the Rockland County Central Labor Council.
I am active in our community. I am a member of the Rockland County Magistrates Association, NYS Magistrates Association, have been a Clarkstown Soccer Club Coach, Clarkstown Girls Softball League Coach, JCC Basketball Coach, St. Augustine's CYO Basketball Assistant Coach, Rockland County Bar Association – Co-Chair of the Real Estate Committee; Mock Trial Committee and volunteer to Host RCBA County-Wide Mock Trial Competition, Leadership Rockland Lecturer on NYS Court System, Teen Leadership Rockland Mock Trial Host, New City Rotary Member

Are you running for office in Rockland County? Contact Lanning Taliaferro at lanning.taliaferro@patch.com for information on being featured in a candidate's profile and posting campaign announcements on Patch.

Previously on Patch:

• Orangetown Candidate Profile: Kenny For Town Supervisor
• Clarkstown Candidate Profile: Feiden For Clarkstown Town Justice
• Rockland Candidate Profile: Wolfe For County Legislature
• Rockland Candidate Profile: Foley For County Legislature
• Clarkstown Candidate Profile: Tannenbaum For Town Council Ward 2
• Rockland Candidate Profile: Vivian Street For County Legislature
• Rockland Candidate Profile: Diederich For District Attorney
• Rockland Candidate Profile: Low-Hogan For County Legislature
• Clarkstown Candidate Profile: Milich For Town Council Ward 4
  
• Clarkstown Candidate Profile: Carroll For Town Council Ward 4
  
• Clarkstown Candidate Profile: Franchino For Town Council Ward 3