LaVallee faults Sedita on DA office donations
A candidate for Erie County district attorney says Frank A. Sedita III should return the money donated to his campaign by assistant prosecutors and other employees in the DA’s office.
“I believe it is unethical to ask current employees of the district attorney’s office to contribute to any of us now seeking the office,” Diane M. LaVallee said Monday. “It’s as if they are being asked to ‘pay to play,’ to ensure they keep their jobs after Jan. 1.”
LaVallee is one of three Democrats in the primary race. The Republican Party has cross-endorsed her, so she will appear on a major party line in November’s general election regardless of her finish in the Democratic primary.
The Buffalo News reported Sunday that the Sedita campaign has collected nearly $26,000 from employees of the DA’s office, with an additional $1,400 from the campaign fund of incumbent District Attorney Frank J. Clark, who is not seeking re-election. The office’s prosecutors serve at Clark’s pleasure.
Sedita did not return telephone or e-mail messages Monday about LaVallee’s challenge. But he recently said he is not soliciting money from any staff member.
“I am not an incumbent district attorney,” Sedita said. “I don’t control anyone’s job around here. No. 2, I have my campaign manager take care of all the solicitations. I do not get involved in that.
“I do not solicit any of the district attorneys. I do not come up and put the arm on them. Do you know why? Because I have been in that position for many years.”
Sedita, a deputy district attorney, also said that if he is elected, no employees’ jobs would hinge on whether they contributed to his campaign.
LaVallee said that while Sedita is trying to distance himself from Clark, he is doing what Clark has done: use his authority in the DA’s office to fuel his campaign.
She said that she will not knowingly accept a contribution from an employee of the DA’s office and that, if elected, no employee will be asked to contribute to her fundraisers.
The third Democrat in the race, Kenneth F. Case, has said he would not solicit or accept money from his former colleagues in the DA’s office. Case said Monday that he would continue that pledge if elected district attorney.
“To avoid the appearance of impropriety,” he said, “you just don’t do that.”
