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To: tmcauliff656

Here's a Brooklyn blogger who likes to comment on these things:



ROPER A NO-HOPER? At first glance, Sandra Roper might not seem like a strong candidate for district attorney of a county with 2.5 million people.

Her small-time lawyer’s résumé doesn’t suggest she’s supervised an office of any size, let alone one with more than two dozen bureaus and hundreds of prosecutors and investigators. And her fundraising history gives no indication she can raise anywhere near the $500,000 or more insiders say is needed to contend.

But her supporters believe Roper, 48, a part-time pharmacist, has a few factors in her favor.

“She’s a scientist. There are no other scientists in the race,” said political insurgent John O’Hara, noting the increasing role of science and technology in law enforcement.

Assuming the scientist vote won’t be enough to win, what other votes can Roper hope for?

First, votes of sympathy and outrage, if Roper can continue to cast herself as a poster child for white oppression based on her indictment, even though it was recently dismissed.

Second, the black vote, since she’s black. Third, the Latino vote, since she’s a native of Panama. “Her middle name is Elena,” O’Hara explained, and it will appear on the ballot, he said.

Fourth, the pro-woman vote. “I’ve never seen a countywide race where one woman runs against five guys and loses,” O’Hara said. (The other candidates raising money are incumbent Joe Hynes, Mark Peters, State Senator John Sampson, Paul Wooten, and Arnie Kriss.)

One problem here is that while voters tend to favor female judges, they prefer male prosecutors. That’s the conventional wisdom, though it doesn’t always hold true (for example, Liz Holtzman was Brooklyn’s D.A. from 1982 to 1989).

But the larger impediment for Roper and the other challengers is that incumbent district attorneys just don’t lose reelection bids in New York City. Any reader who remembers one, please let us know.


20 posted on 04/18/2005 10:37:31 AM PDT by Migraine
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To: Migraine

So her qualifications for District Attorney are that she is a pharmacists, black, a woman and her middle name is 'Elena'?


21 posted on 04/18/2005 10:41:16 AM PDT by BenLurkin (O beautiful for patriot dream - that sees beyond the years)
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