The city’s longest-serving district attorney, Robert Johnson of the Bronx, is running unopposed this fall for an eighth term in office. Normally, that would all but guarantee his re-election. Speculation is swirling, however, that a very different scenario could play out. NY1's Bobby Cuza filed this report.
When it comes to elections, it doesn’t get any easier: Bronx District Attorney Robert Johnson is running unopposed for re-election with the backing of the Democratic, Republican and Conservative Parties. Yet there is growing talk that Johnson may not emerge the winner.
That’s because he's reportedly considering stepping down next month, and accepting a nomination for a judgeship. Under New York election law, that would allow Bronx Democratic Party leaders to hand-pick a replacement, possibly appeals court judge Darcel Clark, who would then appear on the ballot in November in Johnson’s place.
“Even Tammany Hall allowed for greater voter choice,” says Dick Dadey of the Citizens Union.
Good-government groups like Citizens Union and newspaper editorial pages are already crying foul, arguing the move would circumvent the Democratic process, denying a chance to other potential candidates like Assemblyman Luis Sepulveda, who has expressed interest in the job.
“What it does is result in a party boss and a very small committee of party leaders to select who will be the next district attorney. This is not an election. It becomes a coronation,” Dadey says.
Johnson hasn’t done little to tamp down the speculation. A spokesman said it’s his practice not to reply to these types of stories.
“I’m not pushing Robert Johnson to do anything,” says Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie.
The plan was reportedly first hatched by Heastie, who was the longtime Bronx Democratic boss before stepping down from that post earlier this year upon assuming the speakership.
“I gave that job up, you know, six months ago. So I guess those questions you should give to the new county chair,” Heastie said last week.
That new county chair is Bronx Assemblyman Marcos Crespo; repeated attempts to reach him Monday were unsuccessful.
As for Johnson, he’s certainly not been an active campaigner this election cycle. His campaign filings show he’s collected a total of nine contributions, totaling less than $5,000.