Two GOP Candidates Announce Bids for District Attorney Nomination

The race to replace Janet DiFiore as Westchester County’s district attorney kicked off last week with two candidates announcing bids for the Republican endorsement.

Last Wednesday, former Nassau County prosecutor Mitch Benson, 56, of New Rochelle announced his intention to seek the GOP nomination. On Thursday, former Westchester County prosecutor Bruce Bendish also threw his hat into the ring at a press conference held in White Plains.

Bendish served as prosecutor under former Westchester district attorney Carl Vergari for 14 years and has spent the past 19 years working in the law firm he helped establish, Goodrich & Bendish. The 69-year-old White Plains resident also served for 14 years in the Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps in the U.S. Army Reserves.

Last week, he touted his courtroom and managerial experience.

“Westchester needs a modern, tough prosecutor who has the support of the police agencies throughout the county,” Bendish said. “I’ve earned the respect of the judiciary, and I think I’ve earned the respect of my fellow attorneys.”

Bendish said he wanted to tackle corruption in the state, and said he could do so in an unbiased manner. Party affiliation is irrelevant, he said.

“I’m not a career politician,” Bendish said. “I can look at all these cases from an independent point of view. I think we have a drug problem. I think we have a senior citizen problem and an identity theft problem.”

Bendish said he wanted to make community safety and school safety priorities.

“I will not tolerate drugs or guns in the schools,” he told those on hand for his announcement at the Crowne Plaza.

He also called for the creation of a court for veterans, who suffer from a high rate of mental health and substance abuse issues.

“They deserve a court that understands their problems and that is connected to Veterans Administration services,” Bendish said.

Bendish said he would look to implement technology to centralize all the courts in Westchester, something many neighboring counties already have done. He also plans to continue successful programs implemented by DiFiore, who once worked for his firm, such as the county’s Economic Crimes Bureau that was created to tackle white-collar crimes.

“I certainly wouldn’t criticize her because she worked for me in my law firm and I certainly wouldn’t criticize her ever because she is the chief justice of the state now,” Bendish said. “But in this particular situation, there can be no criticism. She’s doing a good job with economic crime and I hope to continue it.”

Benson launched a website and Facebook page announcing his campaign last week. He did not hold a press conference because he has not yet established a campaign headquarters. He said his 30 years as a career prosecutor – 20 years in Manhattan and the last 10 in Nassau County – make him an ideal candidate for the post.

“The county deserves a district attorney who has experience, independence and a proven record of accomplishment,” Benson said. “And I believe I bring all three of those things.”

Like Bendish, Benson said the growing heroin epidemic must be addressed. Drug diversion programs can help those addicted to drugs, but prosecutors must ensure the programs don’t become havens for those who have committed crimes.

“The challenge is striking the balance for who deserves treatment alternatives, or diversion, as mandated by law, and those people who should be rejected for alternative programs and treated as the criminals that they are,” Benson said.

He said he also plans to tackle political corruption and to continue strengthening the county’s Public Integrity Bureau.

“Public corruption is something there should be no tolerance for,” Benson said. “What a district attorney has to do is demonstrate that office is open to information from members of the public and who work in government who have relevant information and want to be sure it will be taken seriously and that there won’t be retaliation.”

One Democrat, George Fufidio, has also announced he is running. Fufidio is a former Westchester prosecutor and currently works as a defense attorney in the county. He could not be reached for comment by press time.

DiFiore stepped down as Westchester District Attorney last month to become the chief judge for the Court of Appeals, the state’s highest court.