For the county’s top law-enforcement job, incumbent Republican William Fitzpatrick is the sole choice for voters as of early spring.
Fitzpatrick has announced he is seeking his sixth term as district attorney. If re-elected, he said in an email interview with Democracywise, he would continue “the same thing I’ve done in my previous five terms.”
That would include, he said, “implementing creative and proactive policies, programs and strategies in response to all forms of violence; weeding out public corruption and hold responsible, those who steal from or defraud taxpayers; and ensuring justice is served for the entire community.”
As of April 1, the Democratic Party had no potential challengers for Fitzpatrick and declined to comment on the race. Both parties designate their official candidates in late spring. The election is Nov. 8.
The district attorney is the county’s lead prosecutor. The district attorney’s office includes Fitzpatrick, 46 assistant district attorneys, 13 investigators and 40 support staff. The salary of the district attorney is $125,600.
Fitzpatrick was first elected district attorney in 1991. In his first three runs for office, Fitzpatrick faced no opposition and Democrats failed to unseat him in the last two races. In 2003, Fitzpatrick defeated Vanessa Bogan, now a city court judge. In 2007, attorney Tina Bennet unsuccessfully challenged Fitzpatrick.
As a long-time prosecutor, Fitzpatrick has won praise from other district attorneys. He has been elected by his colleagues as one of 10 members of the executive committee of the National District Attorney’s Association.
Scott Burns, the association’ executive director, has known Fitzpatrick for 20 years. Burns describes Fitzpatrick as a “super-star among district attorneys nationwide.” Fitzpatrick is one of the most sought-after district attorneys to train prosecutors across the country, Burns said.
On the association’s executive committee, said Burns, “He deals with very intense issues with sometimes-polarized parties, but he has a way with humor and class of resolving issues.”
Before becoming district attorney in 1992, Fitzpatrick was an assistant prosecutor for 10 years, was in charge of Homicide Bureau for three and half years, and was a defense attorney for five years. Fitzpatrick went to Xaverian High School in Brooklyn, graduated from Syracuse University in 1974 and SU’s law school in 1976.
Fitzpatrick, 55, lives in LaFayette with wife, Diane, and their three children. Diane Fitzpatrick is a judge of the New York State Court of Claims.
As signs of his success for Onondaga County, Fitzpatrick cites a collection of $12 million in federal and state grants and the creation of scores of programs aimed at lowering crime and helping victims.
Among those grants and programs:
- A $5.7 million grant from the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, including $302,300 to aid in prosecution.
- $704,948 from the federal “Second Chance Act” grant that includes funding for transitional employment for people in Onondaga County recently released from prison.
- A $75,000 state grant to create a special unit to investigate and prosecute tax fraud.
- The Abused Persons Unit in the county sheriff’s office to investigate sex-related and child-abuse crimes, including Internet preying on children.
- A Forensic Crime Laboratory in Onondaga County to use advanced technology in investigations.
- The Cold-Case Task Force to investigate and prosecute unsolved homicides.
Most of the grant money, Fitzpatrick said, was awarded to his office because of its performance. Added Fitzpatrick: “I think these are objective indicators of success.”
(Leigh Isaacson is a broadcast digital journalism major and geography minor.)
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Audio Interview with Scott Burns, executive director of the National District Attorneys Association, on working with William Fitzpatrick, the Onondaga County district attorney:
“He’s not only an active board member, but he’s been selected to be on the executive committee. We have 105 district attorneys that are on the board, but only 10 are chosen to serve on the executive committee. So I think that gives you some idea of the respect he has among his peers and his dedication.”
“I’m very grateful he’s on the executive committee.”
“I don’t even know what his politics are to be honest with you. He’s a superstar among district attorneys nationwide.”
“He deals with very intense issues with sometimes polarized parties and has a way with humor and class of resolving issues.”
“I couldn’t tell you if he’s a Democrat or Republican. He’s just a fair person.”
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