Meet The Candidates: Ray Tierney For Suffolk County DA

SUFFOLK COUNTy, NY — On Tuesday, November 2, Suffolk County residents will be heading to the polls to elect local representatives and make their voices heard.

In addition to local town and village races, residents will weigh in on the race for Suffolk County District Attorney.

In advance of the election, Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaign — and the results will be published as candidate profiles in the days leading up to the vote.

Ray Tierney, 55, of Holtsville, garnered the Republican and Conservative nomination. He is running to unseat incumbent and Democrat Tim Sini for the DA's seat.

Check out the full Q&A with Ray Tierney below:

<b> Name:

Ray Tierney

<b>Age (as of Election Day)</b>

55

<b>Position Sought</b>

Suffolk County District Attorney

<b>Party Affiliation</b>

Republican and Conservative

<b>Family</b>

Wife - Erica Tierney
Sons- Raymond, Sean and Patrick
Daughter - Kaitlin

<b>Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?</b>

No

<b>Education</b>

Undergraduate - Brown University
Law Degree - St. Johns University

<b>Occupation</b>

Kings County District Attorney's Office — 2019 to 2021
United States Attorney's Office, Eastern District of New York — 2008 to 2019
Suffolk County District Attorney's Office — 2002 to 2008 and 1992 to 1999
Private Practice — 2000 to 2001

<b>Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office</b>

None

<b>Campaign website</b>

https://www.raytierneyforda.co...

<b>Why are you seeking elective office?</b>

I am seeking office as the next District Attorney to bring experience, ethics, and independence to an office that desperately needs it. I have been a lifelong prosecutor working for the safety and protection of the people of Suffolk County and the state. I have been given an opportunity to rid the DA's office of ineffectiveness and political gamesmanship. I look forward to continuing to serve the public.

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

The single most pressing issue is rising crime coupled with New York State's liberal pro-criminal policies. I will be a strong voice willing to stand up and proactively speak out against Albany's bail reform and new discovery laws. Additionally, I will leverage my 26-plus years experience as a top prosecutor to ensure that, even with difficult legislation in place, criminals are taken off the streets as soon as they present a danger to the public, not after a tragedy ensues, as we are seeing now.

<b>What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?</b>

My prosecutorial experience, ethics, and independence. There is no substitute for the experience that a 26-year successful career provides. Unlike my opponent, I have successfully tried multiple murder cases, MS-13 gang cases, corruption, white-collar crime and child exploitation cases. My experience as an executive in the Brooklyn District Attorney's Office provided me with an opportunity to successfully run a crime strategies unit in very challenging times. All of this proven experience will be invaluable in providing leadership and direction to Suffolk's office of more than 300 ADAs. My opponent's lack of admission (in regard to) that experience is an important factor further provides evidence of how that office is run.

My ethics and independence are unmatched. I have never been a member of a political party and I have worked hard my entire career for the sole purpose of prosecuting criminals, fairly and to the fullest extent of the law. Mr. Sini was handed several politically motivated high-level appointments and his career path is in stark contrast to my own.

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

The current office is more concerned with splashy headlines, press conferences, and using the current position as a political stepping stone to his next job. This is all in stark contrast to how my office will be run. DA Sini has failed to utilize all of the prosecutorial tools to keep dangerous criminals off the streets. There are several instances, just this past summer, where he did not indict dangerous criminals despite having the circumstances and evidence to do so. These individuals were free to go and they went on to either commit murder, or in the instance of the East End overdoses, they went on to continue with their drug dealing and six residents died. This will not happen in my office.

<b>How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What if anything would you have done differently?</b>

I am not a health official and I recognize the extremely challenging circumstances that surrounded decisions. However, I have repeatedly stated that (former Gov. Andrew) Cuomo should be investigated for the Suffolk County nursing home deaths and the policies that may have caused these tragedies.

<b>Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.</b>

Transparency. Currently, it is nearly impossible to understand the crime rate in Suffolk County. Because everything the DA does is for political purposes, accurate crime stats are impossible to find. I will institute a crime strategies unit that will catalog all indexed crime and build strategies around preventing them. Additionally, I will implement a tool called ShotSpotter which will notify police of all gunfire without the need for citizens to call the police. This is especially important in the communities ravaged by illegal gun violence where citizens may be hesitant to contact the police. Gunfire is the precursor to larger and bigger crimes in those areas and this is a measure of prevention.

<b>What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?</b>

My success as a prosecutor, my leadership role in complex investigations and trials and my experience garnered from the challenges I have faced throughout my career. My success in gang prosecution lead me to the White House where I advised the Attorney General on the success we had in Suffolk. My MS-13 murder convictions and my knowledge base around those cases will be critically important in leading this office.

<b>The best advice ever shared with me was:</b>

A coward dies a thousand times before his/her death but the brave dies only once.

<b>What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?</b>

I have tremendous pride in my family and providing a safe county for them and the rest of the County. This is what motivates and drives me to win this race. I want to ensure that every person in this county has the quality of life that they deserve and I will not stop fighting until that happens.