It’s official: DiFiore a Democrat
Westchester County District Attorney Janet DiFiore made the rumors official today: She has changed her party affiliation, registering as a Democrat.
DiFiore joins Assemblyman Mike Spano of Yonkers as the second major Republican in the county lately to abandon the GOP.
Asked by my colleague Glenn Blain if he expected DiFiore to be the Democratic nominee for District Attorney in the next campaign cycle, Reginald LaFayette, chairman of the county Democratic Party, said: “Of course I do.”
Her statement, after the jump.
Statement of Janet DiFiore:
Today I changed my voter registration at the Westchester County Board of Elections and became a member of the Democratic Party. After careful consideration, I decided to change my party registration because the principles of the Democratic Party are closely aligned with my views.
I have been privileged to serve the people of Westchester County for over 20 years and in three elective offices. After beginning my career as an Assistant District Attorney, I served as a Westchester County Court Judge, as a New York State Supreme Court Justice, and, since January 1, 2006, as Westchester County District Attorney. In all respects, I have served in these positions in a completely non-partisan way, something that is appropriate for all of us who serve the public in the administration of justice.
I intend to run for re-election as District Attorney in 2009, and I will continue to serve as Westchester County District Attorney for as long as the people of Westchester County for whom I work choose to return me to that office. We have many exciting law enforcement initiatives underway in the District Attorney’s Office and I look forward to both seeing those initiatives through to completion and to continuing to lead the creative work of the outstanding and hard-working lawyers, investigators and staff we have assembled.
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Nicky is next….
What say you now, “consultant”???
This was a foolish move, and also an unnecessary one
at this time. She isn’t up for re-election now. And
when she is, unless there is a big scandal or other
unanticipated problem in her office, she would be
re-elected anyway as a Republican.
Like Mike Spano, she has turned her back on the
party which put her in office.
As usual, there continues to be a lot of distasteful
political doings in Westchester County.
Foolish move? Not at all. Democrats outnumber Republicans by large margins. Why should she lose simply because she is not a Democrat? Does anyone honestly think she’ll change the way she prosecutes cases? She will continue to serve the public in a non-partisan way and seek justice regardless of political affiliation.
Just as I was logging off, too. I said I believed
she would be re-elected as a Republican. Being a
Republican didn’t cause her to lose last time did it?
And that was recently, not 20 years ago.
If she is so “non-partisan,” why did she make a
clearly partisan move?
Janet DiFiore’s decision to abandon the Republican Party and those who worked so hard for her in her races for County Court, Supreme Court and District Attorney has proven her to be an opportunistic, self-serving politician who is more concerned with her own re-election than the public safety of the residents of Westchester County who elected her as a Republican on three separate occasions.
Ms. DiFiore is clearly not confident in her own ability to win re-election regardless of party label and her own polling must indicate that the voters are not satisfied with her performance either.
Fortunately, the people of Westchester have historically elected Republicans to the District Attorney’s office because of their strong stance against crime. I am confident that the people of Westchester County, both Democrats and Republicans alike, are going to see through this obvious attempt by Ms. DiFiore to subvert the will of the people by abandoning her own long held principles for political expediency. I believe the people of Westchester will respond by returning a Republican to the DA’s office in 2009.
Doug Colety, Chairman
Westchester GOP
She made a “partisan” move because she realizes that regardless of how good a job she’s done, she would lose in 2009 if she ran as a Republican. One can empathize with her position.
Why can’t the GOP endorse her as a ‘fusion’ candidate similar to Robert Morgenthau in the city? As Frank Hogan said, there is no Republican or Democratic way to fight crime – only the best way. She has proved herself to be a terrific D.A.
Doug Colety is correct in his appraisal of the situation. This has been in the works for months. As History shows, even many Democrats want a Republican ‘pro law enforcment’ DA in office. Janet truly is a disappointment, she could have won her re-election bid regardless of her Party affliation.
If she is so non-political then she could have switched to a NON, or simply have asked for a cross endorsement from the Democrats. Why should the Republicans cross endorse her.
Besides she is doing an average job.
Go get her Doug Colety. I know you well enough to know that you are working on this right now.
GO GETTEM !!!!!
Doug Colety is the one who is self serving, he was hoping for Janet to serve as his lead republican. Doug will have to find his own way now and he realizes that without Janet he will be forced to show if he can lead (not likely).
Maybe Janet left because she realizes that with Doug as the republican chairman, she would be in big trouble because the Republican Party in Westchester County is going to self destruct. Why stay on a sinking ship, especially when the new Captain has no clue.
Our District Attorney has shown that she is not a partisan politician; she has shown that she does her job equally for all people, regardless of their party affiliation.
“Our District Attorney has shown that she is not a partisan politician” I have to respectfully disagree with you RJB switching Party affliation to another Party is THE MOST POLITICAL MOVE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL CAN MAKE. It speaks volumes to her mindset.
May I also say that it is unfair to judge Colety so early on, give him a chance to show his abilities. He may turn out to be an impressive leader. Time will only tell.
I also agree with Colety. She has shown herself
to be a cheap opportunist, and obviously not very
principled, either.
As Colety also suggested, maybe she has polling which
shows her not to be as solid as many thought she was.
But then, she just proved THAT, didn’t she?
DiFiore and Mike Spano should share a Mickey Mouse
lunchbox sandwich in Montana. And stay there. And
make that a VERY cheesy sandwich. Make it Limburger.
That fits both them and this situation.
I hope some party bucking (independent) Democrat takes her out in a primary. Does anyone doubt that if we wake up tomorrow and the party registrations are magically reversed that she’d switch back to a Republican?
“DiFiore joins Assemblyman Mike Spano…” as just another laughable imbecile.
Finally, a picture that actually looks like her!
Oh my, it is obvious that we disagree. In fact, like judges, I think the DA should almost not be considered to have any alliance with any party. I think what should matter with our DA is that they do an effective job on a manner that treats all people and parties equal. I think DA DiFiore has shown herself to be a fair but firm DA.
I will vote for her no matter what party line she runs on. The only people that really care about the party switch is the insiders and they don’y carry the votes to get a person elected.
GOOD LUCK TO BOTH MIKE SPANO AND JANET! THEY DO A GREAT JOB NOW AND WILL IN THE FUTURE.. ALL THE BEST GUYS! ETHAN – DON’T BE MAD BECAUSE EVERYONE IS LEAVING THE PARTY AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE ONLY ONE LEFT IS THE MAYOR I BET IT DOESN’T LOOK GOOD FOR THE MAYOR IS THAT WHY YOU ARE MAD?
BAN PINOCHIO FOR HIS RACISTS REMARKS PLEASE…
there is no republican or democratic way to fight
crime….the da cannot participate in politics
he or she cannot endorse candidate for public
office…he or she cannot appear in campaign
ads except in the year he or she runs for
office…the da’s office should be above
partisanship ..and there are many who think
that da’s should not even be elected
for those of you who think that a da should
be one party or the other..you are doing
the system a great injustice..just as those
of you who want to run judges for office
rather than cross endorse those who have
already served with distinction…
You are right, but DiFiore is wrong. She made a highly partisan move, and made herself look like just another political hack. She put the “politics” into this, no one else did. She is the most partisan of all.
This is so sad. In a Democrat-run city, my hometown of Los Angeles, Republican Richard Riordan won election as mayor, twice, in 1993 and 1997, although Democrats were winning as City Attorney and District Attorney. The difference is: Riordan had courage, and vision, and he didn’t have half as much money as Janet.
This expediency is dreadful, and will haunt citizens of Westchester County for years to come.
Janet: how could you do this? It’s better, historically, to go down with the ship than to be thought of as a cowardly lemming capitulating to the side of evil.
Janet and I are the same age. I have been a Republican since 1973, through thick and thin, and am not likely to ever change political parties. I am still in shock.
Tim Hays
And if Outer-Mongolians became a large Westchester voting block, our local politicians would become Outer-Mongolians.
Consultant – How much were you paid to write that?
Janet Difiore in my opinion is corrupt. How pathetic a move was it that she changed from being a life long republican to a democrat. What principals changed? It just goes to show what a oppurtunist she really is.
When she is around the Jews she claims she is jewish.
When around Italians she claims she is Italian.
When around blacks she claims she is black.
When around Latino’s she claims she is latino.
But I never heard her lay claim to being corrupt. Well thats not too popular yet because if it was then her true colors would come out as they just did.
Would the real Janet Difiore (the Corrupt politician ) please stand up!
Janet Difiore doesnt like blacks or latino’s. It has been rumored that she uses the “N” word quite often. Her actions in her office just go to prove my case.
Rui Florim. Irma Marquez, Officer Ridley, just to name a few of her victims. What about the hundreds of other black and Latino victims of District attorney Janet Difiore
These are my opinions!
By the way, just got some great information about the relationship of District attorney Janet Difiore and Manhattan Assistant DA Matthew Bogdanos.
Matthew Bogdanos has been to Janet Difiore’s home on a number of occassions. My my what a tangled web these corrupt people weave.
Isnt this the ADA from Manhattan who has targeted Sam Zherka as a favor for Janet Difiore. Isnt this the man who is attempting to go after a the publisher of the Westchester Guardian because of an unflattering article written about Janet Difiore.
Holy moly, how corrupt is Janet Difiore and Matthew Bogdanos?
I want to collect the $100,000.00 reward about corruption against these two law breakers. Who can I call to collect. I have the information ( verifiable )and the sources.
How many more victims will Janet Difiore claim before the people of Westchester County realize how corrupt and unfit this woman really is. Janet Difiore is the co-conspirator behind all the police brutality in Yonkers, especially when the victim is black, poor or latino.