The Republican and Conservative parties have nominated Joy Watson and the Libertarian Party has nominated Anthony Colleluori to run against Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice, a Democrat, in the fall election.
Joy Watson Receives Republican and Conservative Nod
Attorney and prosecutor, Joy Watson, Esq., has received the nod from both the Republican and Conservative parties to run for Nassau County District Attorney. The endorsement was made official June 4 at the nominating convention held in Westbury.
Watson’s campaign released the following statement:
“Watson’s record as a public prosecutor has qualified her to move prosecutions in Nassau County forward, with a tough approach to crime and a fair attitude toward justice. She has achieved that through her assignments as Nassau County prosecutor in the cities of Long Beach and Glen Cove and countywide, in her position as a seasoned prosecutor handling narcotics cases, DWI and assault cases as well as burglaries, robberies, kidnapping cases and ultimately all levels of sex crimes and homicides, including vehicular homicides and murder in the first degree cases. Joy Watson’s leadership as a prosecutor has been proven by her over four years as chief of the Sex Crimes Unit, over seven years as a Major Offense/Homicide prosecutor with over two years as Deputy Chief and over two years as Chief of the Sex Offense and Domestic Violence Bureau. Victims of violent crime have always been one of Joy Watson’s priorities as a Nassau County prosecutor, especially when advocating for those whose voices can no longer be heard.
“Echoing the national thrust for transparency in government and family values, Joy Watson has long been recognized for her achievements by legal, charitable and family-based organizations. This has further empowered her support for her bid for Nassau County District Attorney.”
Upon receiving the nomination to secure the position of Nassau County District Attorney, Watson said, “As a lawyer, prosecutor and community activist who lives and works in Nassau County, I am committed to devoting my time and energy to being responsive to the public’s need and to helping you, my neighbors, friends and family, reclaim essential family values, public safety and confidence in our criminal justice system – the essential reasons why you and I have chosen Nassau County as our home.” Watson added, “With your help, you and I will be certain of reaching those goals. That’s my promise, that’s your future.”
The statement continued, “Joy Watson served in the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office for almost 20 years as a top prosecutor before accepting the prestigious position of Principal Law Clerk for Supreme Court Justice Karen Murphy. Over the past two decades, Watson earned the reputation in law enforcement circles and the public as a tough but fair minded prosecutor.” Patrick O’Connor, retired Chief of Detectives, Nassau County Police Department stated, “This is one of the key factors for making Joy Watson the most qualified, without a doubt, for the position of Nassau County District Attorney.”
Joy Watson has served as vice president of the Nassau County Women’s Bar Association, past president and member of the Board of Directors of the American Academy for Professional Law Enforcement and member of the Board of Directors for Big Brothers and Sisters of Long Island. She is an active member of the Nassau County Bar Association and serves on the Advisory Board of the WE CARE Fund. Watson is vice president of the Law Secretary/Court Attorney Association of Nassau County. Watson has received such awards as the 2005 Hon. Thomas E. Ryan, Jr. Memorial Award from the Court Officer’s Benevolent Association and the 2005 Champion for Children award presented by Parents for Megan’s Law. She is an adjunct professor in Criminal Justice at Molloy College and lectures at the Nassau County Police Academy, the Nassau County Bar Association, Adelphi University, and the National Institute for Trial Advocacy and the New York State Office of Court Administration. She has been a mentor at the Hempstead Village Middle School for many years.
Anthony Colleluori Is Libertarian Party’s Candidate
The Nassau County Libertarian Party has named Anthony “Tony” Colleluori as their nominee for Nassau County District Attorney.
Colleluori stated that he will run his campaign highlighting his experience as a defense attorney and civil rights litigator for over 25 years. Issues which he says are his priorities include “ending the excessively punitive prosecutions against DWI suspects, cutting wasteful spending, videotaping all confessions, and de-prioritizing the prosecution of marijuana possession.”
Colleluori is sole partner of his law firm Colleluori & Associates. He is a longtime Nassau County resident presently living in Woodbury with his wife Mary Rose. They have two children Salvatore and Franklin.
