WILLIAM WAGSTAFF, RENOWNED CIVIL RIGHTS ATTORNEY AND ADVOCATE, ANNOUNCES RUN FOR WESTCHESTER COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY
On Monday, November 20, recognized attorney, civil rights leader, social justice champion, and lifetime Democrat William O. Wagstaff III declared his campaign for Westchester County District Attorney almost one month after current Westchester DA Mimi Rocah announced she would not be running for re-election.
“Westchester needs a District Attorney who will prioritize protecting our communities and standing up for victims, while at the same time recognizing that our system does not always lead to just outcomes. I bring a unique background and perspective that I believe would make me the kind of District Attorney that Westchester needs at this moment,” says William Wagstaff, who if he wins would make history as Westchester County’s first Black District Attorney.
William’s life experiences and journey to this point are unlike any candidate in the history of the Westchester District Attorney’s office.
Wagstaff has handled some of the area’s highest-profile civil rights cases; among his cases are lawsuits against the City of Poughkeepsie Police for using excessive force on teenage sisters, representation of a Hudson Valley Chapter of Black Lives Matter and its members who were victims of illegal police surveillance, a suit on behalf of the family of an unarmed man shot by New Rochelle police, and a recently settled suit against the City of New York for $2.25 Million for the death of a Riker’s Island detainee held in solitary confinement.
“As District Attorney, I will make Westchester County safer with integrity through the implementation of data-driven solutions for addressing gun violence, hate crimes, domestic violence, and property crime.”
Wagstaff has rolled out a robust Policy Plan with initiatives for:
Utilizing Data to Reduce Crime & Improve Quality of Life
Eradicating Hate Crimes & Protecting Targeted Communities
Encouraging Treatment of Mental Health Issues & Substance Use Disorder
Combating Elder Fraud and Abuse
Providing Support & Resources to Law Enforcement
Accounting for Consequences to Immigrants
Making Diversion the Rule
Addressing Racial Disparities
Charging with Restraint & Plea Bargaining Fairly
Promoting Restorative Justice
A Mount Vernon native, Wagstaff has served as the City of Mount Vernon’s Special Prosecutor for Police Discipline. In that role, he has held bad actors accountable but also supported law enforcement, recognizing that ensuring police are treated fairly is equally essential.
In addition to serving as Special Prosecutor, William serves as Special Counsel to Mount Vernon Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard and as Chairman of her Judicial Appointment Committee.
“My steadfast commitment to social justice and proven ability to deliver real results instead of rhetoric will make the District Attorney’s office a vehicle for the impactful change we need,” Wagstaff says.
William’s commitment to the community is equal to his commitment to justice; he co-sponsors an annual coat drive with Collective for a Cause in Yonkers, serves as Chair of the African American Men of Westchester Mentoring Committee, and is on the Board of Directors for the Legal Aid Society of Westchester.
William is a Pace Law School graduate and has his MBA from Fordham Business School. He is raising two great kids with his wife, Christina.
Wagstaff’s civil rights advocacy, legal experience, and ability to effect change have earned him broad support across Westchester County as he begins his campaign for District Attorney; the campaign is well on its way to a healthy six-figure war chest by the January campaign finance filing. For more information, visit www.wagstaffforda.com.
Wagstaff will face former Westchester prosecutor Adeel Mirza and Sheralyn Pulver Goodman, a longtime public defender who now runs the county Independent Office of Assigned Counsel, in the Democratic primary next year in what will be one of the most watched races and one of the most important races in the election. While Wagstaff, Mirza and Pulver are the only Democrats to announce so far, local election officials share with Black Westchester that Judge Susan Cacace, Acting Justice of the Westchester County Supreme Court in the Ninth Judicial District of New York may be eyeing this race as well, although she has yet to throw her hat in the ring.
For those fighting for criminal justice reform, the office of your local district attorney is the most important election in your area!
Stay tuned to Black Westchester for all updates and coverage of this very important election!
AJ Woodson is the Editor-In-Chief and co-owner of Black Westchester, Host & Producer of the People Before Politics Radio Show, An Author, Journalism Fellow (Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism), Rap Artist - one third of the legendary underground rap group JVC FORCE known for the single Strong Island, Radio Personality, Hip-Hop Historian, Documentarian, Activist, Criminal Justice Advocate and Freelance Journalist whose byline has appeared in several print publications and online sites including The Source, Vibe, the Village Voice, Upscale, Sonicnet.com, Launch.com, Rolling Out Newspaper, Daily Challenge Newspaper, Spiritual Minded Magazine, Word Up! Magazine, On The Go Magazine and several others.
