Ken Thompson may have solidified his lead in the race for Brooklyn District Attorney, especially in the Orthodox Jewish community, but incumbent Joe Hynes – now running on the Republican and Conservative lines – is not yielding.

This week, Mr. Hynes received the endorsement of two Jewish weekly newspapers who are not necessarily aligned with the Ultra-Orthodox Jewish community in particular, but widely read in the Jewish community in Brooklyn.

“Mr. Hynes has more than earned being returned to office,” the Jewish press writes in its endorsement. “Over the years he has transformed the reputation of the office to where it is now the first choice of many of the most talented young lawyers seeking work in law enforcement. He also built a staff of more than 500 lawyers, which rivals the size of many of the country’s largest law firms. Overseeing its work is a mammoth responsibility and management experience is crucial. Most important, during his period in office he has initiated alternative approaches to crime prevention, such as rehabilitation programs without incarceration, that have achieved remarkable results in combating recidivism.”

“For now, Mr. Hynes deserves reelection both in terms of hakoras hatov for what he has done for Brooklyn and the Jewish community, and for the experience and accumulated wisdom he will bring to the next four years,” the editorial concludes.

“Brooklyn District Attorney Charles J. Hynes’ enduring legacy as tough crime fighter and advocate of the people of Kings County make him the best choice to continue his job,” writes The Jewish Voice. “In 2005, Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Mr. Hynes started a United States Department of Justice funded Family Justice Center – a one stop shopping service for victims of domestic violence and their surviving children. Hynes started one of the first Drug Treatment Alternative-to-Prison (DTAP) programs for chronic drug offenders in the country. Mr. Hynes is now spearheading a groundbreaking alternative-to-prison program for mothers and their children through a not-for-profit foundation named in honor of his mother, Regina Drew. The Drew Foundation is planning to operate the first residence of its kind in the country in which women will be permitted to remain with all of their children in a secure, community-based setting while receiving intensive trauma-focused, rehabilitative services.”

Last week, a group of influential Rabbis in Flatbush endorsed Mr. Hynes, citing “he has consistently worked to be fair, attentive and respectful.”

(Jacob Kornbluh – YWN)