Staten Island District Attorney Race Heats Up with Accusations of Dirty Tricks
As the Staten Island district attorney election campaign comes to a close, tensions have risen between candidates William L. Murphy and Guy V. Molinari, with both sides accusing each other of attempting to gain an edge through negative campaigning. The heated atmosphere has led to claims of dirty tricks and death threats, with each side trading barbs and counter-accusations.
Key Takeaways:
- Democrats in Staten Island suspect that Republican Borough President Guy V. Molinari is using a death threat against him as a way to gain political mileage in the district attorney election.
- Molinari's campaign denies the accusations, with his daughter, Representative Susan Molinari, saying that the issue is a personal matter that should not be politicized.
- Incumbent District Attorney William L. Murphy has responded by pointing out that the man accused of making the death threat was tried by the Brooklyn District Attorney's office, not Murphy's own office.
- The Staten Island election is seen as crucial in determining the balance of power on the borough, with a Republican victory potentially breaking the Democratic Party's stronghold.
- Negative campaigning has become a common theme throughout the region, with several local races marred by accusations of dirty tricks and disinformation.
Statistics:
- 100%: The number of times Guy V. Molinari's campaign has been accused of using a death threat as a political issue.
- 3: The number of terms William L. Murphy has served as District Attorney.
- 1993: The year Rudolph W. Giuliani won the mayoral election with the help of Republican dominance on Staten Island.
- 12: The number of years William L. Murphy has been District Attorney.
Sources:
- "A Man for All Reasons", New York Times, date not specified
- Ed Burke, Spokesman for Guy Molinari
- Representative Susan Molinari
- Robert J. Giganti, Chairman of the Democratic Party on Staten Island
- William L. Murphy, Incumbent District Attorney