1981 Brooklyn County District Attorney election

Local election in New York City, June 2021 1981 Brooklyn County District Attorney election New York City File:Flag of the Borough of Manhattan.svg presidential 1977 Brooklyn County District Attorney election 1977 1985 Brooklyn County District Attorney election 1985 November 3, 1981 no Elizabeth Holtzman (3x4 cropped).jpg Elizabeth Holtzman 209,651 66.86% Democratic Party (United States) Liberal Party of New York Norman Rosen 86,624 27.51% Republican Party (United States) Brendan Connolly 17,278 5.51% Conservative Party of New York State New York State Right to Life Party District Attorney Eugene Gold Democratic Party (United States) Elizabeth Holtzman Democratic Party (United States) An election for Brooklyn District Attorney was held on November 3, 1981. Elizabeth Holtzman, a former member of the United States House of Representatives, defeated Norman Rosen, the executive assistant to the sitting district attorney, in both the Democratic primary and general election. Eugene Gold, who was first elected as district attorney in 1968, declined to seek reelection and endorsed Rosen. Rosen was supported by Ed Koch and the Brooklyn Democratic Party and outspent Holtzman, but lost due to Holtzman's strong support among black voters. In the general election, Rosen was again defeated as the Republican nominee. Background Eugene Gold was elected Brooklyn District Attorney in 1968,Gold 1968 and reelected with Republican support in 1973 and 1977.Line 1981 He oversaw the third-largest district attorney office in the United States.No Run 1981 On May 28, 1981, he announced that he would not seek reelection and that he would instead work on improving Israel–United States relations.No Run 1981 Nominations Democratic Candidates Elizabeth Holtzman, member of the United States House of Representatives from New York's 16th congressional district Norman Rosen, executive assistant to Eugene Gold Did not run Robert Aiello, assistant district attorneyKaner 1981 Jerome Becker, criminal court judgeGold 1981 Jerome Karp, president of the Kings County Criminal Bar AssociationGold 1981BrooklynDem 1981 Philip Kaplan, president of the District 15 School BoardGold 1981 Leonard Skolnik, member of the New York Supreme CourtKaner 1981 On the day Gold announced he would not run, he endorsed his executive assistant Norman Rosen, who had worked for him for 13 years, to succeed him.No Run 1981Rosen 1981Toscano 1981 Rosen's campaign was coordinated by Thomas DavideHarney Lieberman 1981 and managed by Walter Diamond.Diamond 1981 Rosen was supported by Mayor Ed Koch and Brooklyn's Democratic political machine.Machine 1981 Koch claimed that he would not support any candidate, but endorsed Rosen on four days before the primary.Herbert Step 1981 The Kings County Democratic Coalition wanted Elizabeth Holtzman to run and she gave them permission to circulate petitions for her, but declined to state whether she would run.Reform 1981 Holtzman launched her campaign on July 22.Launch 1981 During the campaign, Rosen ran a radio commercial that stated, "Liz Holtzman, she's a nice girl; maybe I'd like to have her as a daughter, but not as a DA."Conway Bourque 1989 25-26 Holtzman and Rosen participated in a debate on August 21, and aired by WNBC on August 23.Debate 1981 By September, Rosen raised $228,603, with a $50,000 loan from Fredrick DeMatteis and another $50,000 loan from assemblyman Joseph Martuscello, while Holtzman raised $145,837.Money 1981 Between 8 p.m. and 9 a.m. September 20 to 21, people broke into Rosen's campaign office. 9 telephone units worth a combined $4,500, 2 IBM Selective typewriter worth $2,000, and a $75 loudspeaker microphone were stolen. Davide claimed that the theft was "a case of political sabotage", but Rosen clarified that he was not accusing Holtzman or her supporters of having conducted it.Harney Lieberman 1981 The primary was initially scheduled for September 10, but was pushed back to September 22, due to a court ruling on September 8, regarding the redistricting of the New York City Council.Diamond 1981Primary Date 1981 Holtzman won the nomination due to strong support from black voters,Minority 1981Black Voters 1983 winning 74% in black-majority areas.Kempton 1981 Assemblyman Albert Vann was credited with gaining this support for Holtzman.Vann 1981 Rosen spent $400,000 compared to Holtzman's $250,000.Spending 1981 Others The Republicans selected Aaron Schechter and the Liberals selected Herbert Dicker, chair of the party in Brooklyn, as their respective paper candidates. These candidates were replaced as the Republican line was given to Rosen and the Liberal line given to Holtzman.Herbert Step 1981Line 1981 Brendan Connolly received the nominations of the Conservative and Right to Life parties.Connolly 1981 General Koch switched his support to Holtzman for the general election.Koch Switch 1981 Fred Pantaleone, the chair of the Brooklyn Republicans, hoped that Rosen would become the first person to win the district attorney election as a Republican in decades.Pantaleone 1981 Holtzman spent $60,000 during the general election.Easy Win 1981 Her election made her first female district attorney in New York City and the second in New York State.Le Veness Sweeney 1987 68 After losing the election Rosen was appointed to the Queens County District Attorney's office by John J. Santucci.Queens 1981 Results 1981 Brooklyn County District Attorney electionElections Board Tally 1981 Democratic Party (United States) Elizabeth Holtzman 197,200 62.89% Liberal Party of New York Elizabeth Holtzman 12,451 3.97% Total Elizabeth Holtzman 209,651 66.86% Republican Party (United States) Norman Rosen 86,624 27.51% Conservative Party of New York State Brendan Connolly 10,280 3.28% New York State Right to Life Party Brendan Connolly 6,998 2.23% Total Brendan Connolly 17,278 5.51% 313,553 100.00% Endorsements Elizabeth Holtzman endorsements Federal officials Benjamin Civiletti, 73rd United States Attorney General (1979–1981)Endorse 1981 State officials Robert Abrams, 60th Attorney General of New York (1979–1993)Abrams 1981 Local officials Ed Koch, 105th Mayor of New York City (1978–1989) (general)Koch Switch 1981 Newspapers New York Amsterdam NewsAmsterdam 1981 Notable individuals Richard Ben-Veniste, special prosecutor for the Watergate scandalEndorse 1981 Samuel Dash, chief counsel for United States Senate Watergate CommitteeEndorse 1981 Norman Rosen endorsements Local officials Michael F. Armstrong, 38th Queens County District Attorney (1973)Endorse 1981 Eugene Gold, Brooklyn District Attorney (1969–1981)No Run 1981 Charles J. Hynes, 24th New York City Fire Commissioner (1980–1982)Endorse 1981 Ed Koch, 105th Mayor of New York City (1978–1989) (Switched to Holtzman)Koch Switch 1981 Notable individuals Phil Caruso, president of the Police Benevolent Association of the City of New YorkUnion 1981 Organizations Brooklyn Democratic PartyBrooklynDem 1981 Detectives' Endowment AssociationDetective 1981 References Works cited 30em Books Conway Jill Bourque Susan Learning About Women: Gender, Politics, & Power University of Michigan Press Ann Arbor, Michigan 1989 978-0-472-06398-7 https://archive.org/details/learningaboutwom0000unse registration Le Veness Frank Sweeney Jane Women Leaders in Contemporary U.S. Politics Lynne Rienner Publishers Boulder, Colorado 1987 10.1515/9781685859480 978-0-931477-87-4 https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.1515/9781685859480/html registration Newspapers September 22, 1981 At long last, primary day A1 The Daily Item https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-item/168790812/ Newspapers.com Primary Date 1981 November 4, 1981 Elizabeth Holtzman has easy win in Brooklyn D.A. race B8 Staten Island Advance https://www.newspapers.com/article/staten-island-advance/168792588/ Newspapers.com Easy Win 1981 November 6, 1968 Gold Is The Victor In Brooklyn DA Race 7 New York Daily News https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news/168816216/ Newspapers.com Gold 1968 August 13, 1981 Holtzman Candidacy Draws Fire Q7 Newsday https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday/168820196/ Newspapers.com Abrams 1981 September 6, 1989 Holtzman Runs To Her Own Beat 27 Newsday https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103580257/newsday/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20220611205029/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103580257/newsday/ June 11, 2022 Newspapers.com Gold 1981 July 28, 1981 Libs' man steps down so Liz can run 9 New York Daily News https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news/168866121/ Newspapers.com Herbert Step 1981 September 22, 1981 New Yorkers finally get chance to vote 1 The Herald Statesman https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103573666/the-herald-statesman/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20220611191200/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103573666/the-herald-statesman/ June 11, 2022 Newspapers.com Machine 1981 September 24, 1981 Primary Winners Exult As Losers Map Strategy 25 Newsday https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday/168791782/ Newspapers.com Koch Switch 1981 December 27, 1981 Santucci Shakes Up Staff B2 New York Daily News https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news/168792697/ Newspapers.com Queens 1981 Benedetto Richard September 24, 1981 Koch, Holtzman now in kingmaker roles 10A Democrat and Chronicle https://www.newspapers.com/article/democrat-and-chronicle/168791881/ Newspapers.com Spending 1981 Collins Dan September 23, 1981 Holtzman carries minority vote A3 Staten Island Advance https://www.newspapers.com/article/staten-island-advance/168790970/ Newspapers.com Minority 1981 Fitzgerald Owen July 29, 1981 Everything's comin' up Rosen in DA race K3 New York Daily News https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news/168790388/ Newspapers.com Line 1981 Fitzgerald Owen July 22, 1981 Liz Holtzman in running for Brooklyn DA 7 New York Daily News https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news/168790154/ Newspapers.com Launch 1981 Harney James Lieberman Mark September 22, 1981 Rosen aides tie break-in to 'dirty tricks' K1 New York Daily News https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news/168790868/ Newspapers.com Hays Daniel May 28, 1981 B'klyn DA Gold won't seek reelection 7 New York Daily News https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news/168816933/ Newspapers.com No Run 1981 Herbert Bob October 6, 1981 River Walk firm gave Koch campaign 1.6G 22 New York Daily News https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news/168792223/ Newspapers.com Kaner Walter May 27, 1981 Hope, Eden lead a better show XQ11 New York Daily News https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news/168817500/ Newspapers.com Kempton Murray September 25, 1981 Prince Charming Of the Primaries And His Fatal Flaw 69 Newsday https://www.newspapers.com/article/newsday-nassau-edition/168792021/ Newspapers.com Lieberman Mark August 5, 1981 10 union chiefs back Rosen for DA K3 New York Daily News https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news/168819027/ Newspapers.com Union 1981 Lieberman Mark McLaughlin John Medina David August 28, 1981 Barbaro: Ed backers got 60M in tax breaks 27 New York Daily News https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news/168865292/ Newspapers.com Amsterdam 1981 Lieberman Mark September 30, 1981 Conservatives ready to pick a candidate for DiCarlo seat K10 New York Daily News https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news/168792127/ Newspapers.com Pantaleone 1981 Lieberman Mark November 19, 1981 Elections Board tally: Bellamy draws Dems K26 New York Daily News https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news/168792575/ Newspapers.com Elections Board Tally 1981 Lieberman Mark June 3, 1981 Gold's departure may start a primary fight among Dems K4 New York Daily News https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news/168789220/ Newspapers.com Rosen 1981 Lieberman Mark September 2, 1981 Holtzman and Rosen differ on DA's record K3 New York Daily News https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news/168820668/ Newspapers.com Money 1981 Lieberman Mark September 10, 1981 Primary delay may add new twists to contests K3 New York Daily News https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news/168866339/ Newspapers.com Diamond 1981 Lieberman Mark December 30, 1981 Primary, district rulings may trigger changes in '82 K4 New York Daily News https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news/168792716/ Newspapers.com Vann 1981 Lieberman Mark June 17, 1981 Reform Dems tap Liz for DA, set stage for heated primary K5 New York Daily News https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news/168818277/ Newspapers.com Reform 1981 Lieberman Mark August 13, 1981 Rivals for DA post count their blessings K3 New York Daily News https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news/168819844/ Newspapers.com Endorse 1981 Lieberman Mark August 24, 1981 Rosen and Holtzman trade verbal slugs K1 New York Daily News https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news/168820577/ Newspapers.com Debate 1981 Lieberman Mark June 9, 1981 Rosen officially gets Dem nod in race for DA K3 New York Daily News https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news/168818023/ Newspapers.com BrooklynDem 1981 Lieberman Mark November 1, 1981 The excitement's not on ballot B1 New York Daily News https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news/168866608/ Newspapers.com Connolly 1981 McLaughlin John November 8, 1983 Victory: More black voters 8 The Daily Times https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103573999/the-daily-times/ live https://web.archive.org/web/20220611191200/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103573999/the-daily-times/ June 11, 2022 Newspapers.com Black Voters 1983 Melia John August 3, 1981 Detectives back Rosen for B'klyn DA 10 New York Daily News https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news/168818865/ Newspapers.com Detective 1981 Toscano John November 1, 1981 Liz takes a powder in debate with Rosen B5 New York Daily News https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-news/168792599/ Newspapers.com Category:1981 New York (state) elections Category:1981 in New York City Category:Local elections in New York (state) Category:District Attorney elections in the United States Category:November 1981 in the United States