Working Families Party endorses Timothy Sini for Suffolk DA
The Working Families Party has chosen Suffolk County Police Commissioner Timothy Sini as its candidate for district attorney, making it the first party to make an endorsement in the county’s top race this fall.
The party’s screening committee, made up of union and community activists, made its recommendation after both Sini and David Calone, a venture capitalist and former assistant U.S. attorney, underwent half-hour interviews at the Long Island Progressive Coalition headquarters in Massapequa.
Bill Lipton, the party’s state director, said Saturday that the Working Families state committee is expected to formally adopt the recommendation in the coming week.
“This is tantamount to an endorsement. Tim is the best candidate to clean up the culture of corruption we’ve seen in the district attorney’s office,” Lipton said. “Tim’s unwavering commitment to one standard of justice and public safety . . . make him . . . the clear choice for working families.”
Lipton declined to disclose the vote of the screening committee, but said Sini had a “clear majority.”
The Working Families Party has not endorsed candidates in recent district attorney races, but party officials say their line can often attract 2 to 5 percent of the vote at the polls.
The endorsement comes two days before Suffolk Democrats are scheduled to hold their county convention Monday. However, Richard Schaffer, Suffolk Democratic chairman, said last week it is unlikely the party will select candidates in the DA and sheriff’s races because Suffolk GOP chairman John Jay LaValle has approached him about the possibility of a cross-endorsement agreement.
Schaffer could not be reached for comment Saturday night.
Sini, in a prepared statement, said he was honored to get the minor party endorsement. “This campaign is moving full steam ahead,” he said, vowing “to deliver justice without fear or favor.”
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