WHY I’M RUNNING
The decision to seek the office of Seneca County District Attorney was not an easy one. I have a wonderful wife, three great children, and two dogs that are the light of my life. I am fortunate to be the Chief Assistant District Attorney in Madison County where I have a great boss, a terrific staff, and the ability to continue to do what I love. I have an 89 year old mother who cannot walk or stand that lives with us and we are her primary caregivers. I had (successful) cancer surgery in August 2008 where they took out about a third of my left kidney. I have not an ounce of politician in me and I have never been involved in party politics. With all this, why complicate my life? For me, all of reasons not to run are trumped by my memory of my father, my feelings for Seneca County, and my belief that Seneca County deserves better.
My father spent his post-World War II career in federal law enforcement. Often, he was gone for long periods of time working in dangerous undercover roles. He was even convicted and served a sentence in New York City’s Tombs for running a bookmaking operation while undercover in 1964. He sacrificed a great deal for his profession and never complained. By example, he taught me the importance of attention to detail, that honesty and integrity were paramount, and that your good name was your most important currency. With his love for law enforcement, he would have been heartsick to see how the lack of the principles he lived by on the part of some in Seneca County have led to the present disrespect towards our criminal justice system and a deeply ingrained sense of cynicism among the citizens of the county. But he also taught me that if you are not ready to be a part of the solution, you are a part of the problem. Just by the act of running, I believe that I am contributing to the solution.
My feelings for Seneca County grew out of the 7 ˝ years that I worked in the District Attorney’s Office as the First Assistant District Attorney and in particular my work on the Eric Parsons quintuple murder case. During that time, Seneca County became more than a place to work; it became a place my family hoped to live. It was for this reason that my wife and I purchased, continue to own, and pay taxes on four acres located at 2194 Westbrook Road in the Town of Tyre. While the 2006 Depot fire and the revelations which followed, along with my mother’s illness, changed those plans, it has never occurred to us to sell our land. We believe in Seneca County and very much look forward to being full members of the community.
My belief that Seneca County deserves better is grounded on the decisions and actions of the present District Attorney and his refusal to be accountable to the people. Those actions have led to a bloated District Attorney’s office budget and outside counsel bills of over a half-million dollars and growing. Unlike the present District Attorney, I believe that a public official must be accountable to the people he serves and that pay his salary. While I do not consider myself a savior, I will bring to the position a history of successfully trying felony criminal cases for over two decades, proven prosecutorial and administrative experience, and the respect of local law enforcement. All of these attributes are needed to restore the public’s confidence in our criminal justice system and ensure that the mistakes of the past are not repeated.
I am excited about this campaign and I look forward to a fair, complete, and detailed discussion of all of the issues. I will continue to try and provide an alternative to a system that has failed to produce a truly contested general election for District Attorney in over twenty years. I will continue to believe that this time we deserve an election, not a coronation. I will continue to run on the belief that a District Attorney that is truly responsive and accountable to the people is what is needed at this time.
I am grateful for the response I have received so far. I will respect the decision of the people. I can be reached at 315-399-6453 or at MascariforDA@aol.com. Please don’t hesitate to call or write me. I will be happy to hear from you and to answer your questions personally.
Thank you,
Bob Mascari
The decision to seek the office of Seneca County District Attorney was not an easy one. I have a wonderful wife, three great children, and two dogs that are the light of my life. I am fortunate to be the Chief Assistant District Attorney in Madison County where I have a great boss, a terrific staff, and the ability to continue to do what I love. I have an 89 year old mother who cannot walk or stand that lives with us and we are her primary caregivers. I had (successful) cancer surgery in August 2008 where they took out about a third of my left kidney. I have not an ounce of politician in me and I have never been involved in party politics. With all this, why complicate my life? For me, all of reasons not to run are trumped by my memory of my father, my feelings for Seneca County, and my belief that Seneca County deserves better.
My father spent his post-World War II career in federal law enforcement. Often, he was gone for long periods of time working in dangerous undercover roles. He was even convicted and served a sentence in New York City’s Tombs for running a bookmaking operation while undercover in 1964. He sacrificed a great deal for his profession and never complained. By example, he taught me the importance of attention to detail, that honesty and integrity were paramount, and that your good name was your most important currency. With his love for law enforcement, he would have been heartsick to see how the lack of the principles he lived by on the part of some in Seneca County have led to the present disrespect towards our criminal justice system and a deeply ingrained sense of cynicism among the citizens of the county. But he also taught me that if you are not ready to be a part of the solution, you are a part of the problem. Just by the act of running, I believe that I am contributing to the solution.
My feelings for Seneca County grew out of the 7 ˝ years that I worked in the District Attorney’s Office as the First Assistant District Attorney and in particular my work on the Eric Parsons quintuple murder case. During that time, Seneca County became more than a place to work; it became a place my family hoped to live. It was for this reason that my wife and I purchased, continue to own, and pay taxes on four acres located at 2194 Westbrook Road in the Town of Tyre. While the 2006 Depot fire and the revelations which followed, along with my mother’s illness, changed those plans, it has never occurred to us to sell our land. We believe in Seneca County and very much look forward to being full members of the community.
My belief that Seneca County deserves better is grounded on the decisions and actions of the present District Attorney and his refusal to be accountable to the people. Those actions have led to a bloated District Attorney’s office budget and outside counsel bills of over a half-million dollars and growing. Unlike the present District Attorney, I believe that a public official must be accountable to the people he serves and that pay his salary. While I do not consider myself a savior, I will bring to the position a history of successfully trying felony criminal cases for over two decades, proven prosecutorial and administrative experience, and the respect of local law enforcement. All of these attributes are needed to restore the public’s confidence in our criminal justice system and ensure that the mistakes of the past are not repeated.
I am excited about this campaign and I look forward to a fair, complete, and detailed discussion of all of the issues. I will continue to try and provide an alternative to a system that has failed to produce a truly contested general election for District Attorney in over twenty years. I will continue to believe that this time we deserve an election, not a coronation. I will continue to run on the belief that a District Attorney that is truly responsive and accountable to the people is what is needed at this time.
I am grateful for the response I have received so far. I will respect the decision of the people. I can be reached at 315-399-6453 or at MascariforDA@aol.com. Please don’t hesitate to call or write me. I will be happy to hear from you and to answer your questions personally.
Thank you,
Bob Mascari
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