Nassau District Attorney Candidates: Meet Madeline Singas

MANHASSET, NY — Nassau County voters on Nov. 5 will decide whether to give incumbent Democrat Madeline Singas a second term as the county's top prosecutor or hand over the reigns to Republican challenger Frank McQuade.

Singas, who defeated former Hempstead Town Supervisor Kate Murray in 2015, seeks a second four-year term as the county's district attorney. As the chief law enforcement official for the county, the district attorney manages more than 350 attorneys, investigators and support staff who prosecute and investigate about 30,000 criminal cases every year.

Patch reached out to both candidates via email and/or Facebook to hear where they stand on important issues affecting the community.

Here are their responses.

Madeline Singas

• Age (as of Sept. 1): 53
• Town of residence: Manhasset
• Position sought: Nassau County district attorney
• Party affiliation: Democrat
• Family: My husband and I are proud parents of teenagers, living in Manhasset.
• Does anyone in your family work in politics or government? No.
• Education: Bachelors degree from Barnard College, JD from Fordham University Law School.

• Occupation: District attorney for four years and nearly 30 years as a prosecutor.
• Previous or current elected or appointed office: District attorney.
• Campaign Website: MadelineSingas.com

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

Crime in Nassau County is at record lows — dropping more than 25 percent in the past four years, and fatal drug overdoses have declined by more than 20 percent. But too many of our neighbors continue to fall victim to opioid abuse. As district attorney, I have cracked down on dealers, implemented innovative educational programs in our schools and dedicated unprecedented resources to prevent addiction and provide treatment. My office funded an expansion of Maryhaven’s New Hope Center to open Nassau’s first 24/7 drug crisis center. It works to provide around-the-clock medical treatment and bridge the treatment gap that exists when an overdose victim is released from the emergency room and their placement in long-term treatment. Since we began this partnership, more than 2,600 people have received lifesaving treatment. A single overdose is too many, and we will continue to collaborate with our community and law enforcement partners to build upon the progress we’ve made combating this scourge that continues to devastate so many Nassau families.

See also: Nassau District Attorney Candidates: Meet Frank McQuade

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

When I first ran for office in 2015, I ran on my experience as a career prosecutor, not a politician. As district attorney, I’ve put my nearly 30 years of experience to work to keep our communities safe, protect victims, and to safeguard the rights of the accused. In contrast, my opponent has never prosecuted a single case. When voters go to the polls, I ask them to look at my record as district attorney. Crime has dropped to historic lows, innovative programs are working to prevent crime, and fewer people are in jail because we've helped offenders get the help and support they need to lead productive and law-abiding lives. Our prosecutors and investigators have taken on political corruption, gang violence, and the opioid addiction crisis, and we have made tremendous progress. Leading this office takes the skill and judgment that can only come from experience, and I’m the only candidate with a record of success making Nassau safer.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)?

No response.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

During my tenure as district attorney, Nassau's crime rate has dropped to historic lows, making it the safest large county in the state. We have dedicated resources to combat drug and gun trafficking, to dismantle violent gangs, to protect seniors from abuse and scams, and to stop the exploitation of the most vulnerable. As MS-13 has terrorized Nassau's immigrant communities, we led a massive coalition of 22 agencies in one of the largest gang takedowns in New York history. This team effort prevented murders, solved murders in other states, and even helped authorities in El Salvador prosecute some of MS-13 most violent leaders in that country. In total, we’ve prosecuted more than 218 MS-13 members, including the gang’s top East Coast leader. I have kept my promise to investigate all allegations of public corruption because no one is above the law. We have prosecuted and convicted politicians and public employees of both parties who have betrayed the public trust. Nassau taxpayers have paid a high price for the abuses of their elected leaders, and my office will continue to pursue these cases without fear or favor. Finally, we've worked to support the most vulnerable victims— children, seniors, the disabled and immigrants. We've prioritized the prosecution of hate crimes, senior scams, and crimes involving animal abuse with specialized units, and as criminals find new ways to harm our neighbors, we’ll work to stay one step ahead.

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

On my watch, and with the help of our outstanding law enforcement partners, Nassau has become New York’s safest large county. Crime is at record lows, overdoses are on the decline, and MS-13 is on the run thanks to massive takedowns — led by my office — that have decimated their leadership. I am running on my experience and on my record of success as Nassau's district attorney — a record I share with the talented prosecutors, investigators, and staff in my office who do an outstanding job supporting victims, safeguarding the rights of the accused, and helping to prevent crime throughout our communities before it happens. As New York enters a new era of criminal justice, implementing complex new reforms to make our system more fair, transparent, and efficient the DA's office needs experienced leadership to ensure that we continue the progress we’ve made.

The best advice ever shared with me was ...

Winston Churchill said "courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen." As a prosecutor, it's critical to carefully consider each case, to listen and evaluate the evidence, and then to advocate for what justice demands — even when that decision is unpopular.

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

No response.