Patch 2011 Elections: District Attorney Tom Zugibe

Patch has asked your candidates a set of questions. Check back each day for their answers. This week, we're looking at county candidates and next week we'll look at town candidates. Today's candidate is incumbent Tom Zugibe who is running uncontested for District Attorney on the following party lines: Democrat, Republican, Conservative, Working Parties and Independence.

What community do you live in?

I was born in Rockland County and live in West Haverstraw where I served as Village Justice for 18 years before being elected as District Attorney in 2007.

How long have you lived there?

I have lived at my current residence with my wife and children since 1985.

Age?

I am 58 years of age.

Family?

I have been married to Peggy (Striletz) Zugibe for 36 years. Peggy and I graduated from North Rockland High School in 1971. She is Vice President of the North Rockland School Board having served twice as its President during her 20 year tenure on the Board. She is also on the BOCES School Board, Rockland County School Board and she is the Area 10 Director for the New York State School Boards Association representing Rockland, Westchester and Putnam counties.

We have 4 children (Tara 31, Kristen 28, Thomas 25 and Mary 23) Tara is married to Scott Munson and we have a one-year-old grandson Scott Jr.  My father, Dr. Frederick T. Zugibe served as Rockland’s first Chief Medical Examiner from 1969 to 2003.

What is your education background?  

I obtained a bachelors degree from Manhattan College in 1975 and a Juris Doctor degree from St. John’s University School of Law in 1979. I am admitted to practice law in the State of New York as well as the Federal District Courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York.

Why do you think you are qualified for this position?

I believe that my legal experience and education make me uniquely qualified to address the public safety and law enforcement challenges for the 21st Century. Between 1981 and 1987, I served as a prosecutor in the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office, where I was promoted to Executive Assistant District Attorney.

My tenure in the District Attorney’s Office included directing the Narcotics Division and Major Offenses Division. During this period, I investigated and tried complex "white collar" cases and obtained felony trial convictions in several Murder and Manslaughter cases. I began my legal career as a Special Assistant Attorney General in the Office of the New York State Deputy Attorney General for Medicaid Fraud Control in 1979 where I prosecuted complex criminal cases.

After leaving the District Attorney’s Office in 2007, I entered private practice where I specialized in commercial litigation, real estate and business matters. From 1989 to 2007, I served as West Haverstraw Village Justice presiding over thousands of criminal cases. During this time I developed a school based diversion program to assist our youth. This program now operates in every school district and Justice Court in Rockland County and is a national model.

Since taking office in 2008, I have totally transformed the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office by the adoption of a unique model of community prosecution. The model developed by this office is now being promoted by the United States Department of Justice as a model to be replicated nationally. Three major cities have already adopted the “Rockland Model.” Our accomplishments in many areas of criminal justice including domestic violence, white-collar crime and many other areas have distinguished this office as a criminal justice leader. I believe our accomplishments during my first term have had a palpable impact on the public safety of all Rockland residents.

Why are you running for this elected office?

I am running for reelection to enable me to continue the development of our many new innovative initiatives that are still in their early stages of development. These initiatives will result in a safer Rockland and in will preserve the future of many of our young people who become involved in the criminal justice system.

What are the three issues that most concern you?

Prescription drugs, domestic violence and violent crime

Explain your proposed approach to managing these issues.

Domestic Violence: I have recruited the finest special victims attorneys who have partnered with our specialized investigators, police detectives, Rockland Family Shelter and Social Services to develop a fully integrated approach to this criminal activity that is a major scourge on our county. Through aggressive prosecutions, punishment and new proposed legislation together with a safety net designed to protect the victims; we believe that this problem will be substantially impacted.

Prescription drugs: Prescription drugs were often viewed as being
somewhat innocuous. We are realizing today, however, that prescription drug abuse is reaching epidemic proportions with the users becoming addicted, overdosing on these medications and often turning to heroin when their supply of expensive prescription medication runs out. Our Drug Task Force is engaging in a very targeted technology driven investigative approach to this crisis. When we arrested 29 individuals in one raid with many being students, the focus was on education and treatment for these individuals as well as appropriate punishment.

Violent crime: Although we have emphasized crime prevention and diversionary programs for young people, we have also concentrated heavily on effective prosecution and sentencing of violent felony offenders to assure that the public is safe.

Have you held elected office before?

Please provide details of what position and for how long.  I was elected to five consecutive 4 year terms as West Haverstraw Village Justice. I resigned to run for District Attorney in 2007.

What organizations do you belong to?

ARC of Rockland, Board Member 1987-present

Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Hudson Valley,

Board Member 2006-present

North Rockland Rotary 1989- present

Election website?

www.zugibe4da.com