Jeff Carpenter, who was appointed Herkimer County’s Acting District Attorney in January 2012, will be on the ballot November 6th seeking election to the District Attorney position. The Herkimer County native earned his bachelor’s degree from American University in Washington, DC, and his law degree from Pepperdine University in Los Angeles.
Carpenter, who has been a lawyer more than 19 years, spent his first nine in private practice, where he focused primarily on criminal defense and personal injury law.
In 2000, he was elected Herkimer Town Justice. He resigned from the position in 2002 to become a full-time Assistant District Attorney for Herkimer County.
For the past 20 years he has also taught in the criminal justice program at Herkimer County Community College. His courses are criminal law, criminal procedure, and constitutional law, he said.
Carpenter said that since college he has structured his career toward one day becoming a District Attorney.
“With my degrees in criminal justice and my professional experience, which includes more than 30 felony level jury trials, I believe I am the candidate with the most experience,” he said.
“Obviously this is a culmination of my professional lifetime in trying to obtain this goal, no question about it,” Carpenter said.
“I bring an unblemished trial record with none of my convictions having been entirely reversed on appeal. I think that’s important,” he said.
“I’ve argued in front of New York State’s highest court—the Court of Appeals—on three occasions and submitted on a fourth. And I just believe that my qualifications, my knowledge of criminal law, and my experience make me the best candidate.”
Carpenter lives in Herkimer with his wife Laura and their two children, ages nine and six.
“My hobbies include first and foremost raising my children, coaching their sports and just being involved with them,” Carpenter said. “Obviously they are the most important thing in my life.”
He also describes himself as an avid sportsman.
“I four-wheel and like to engage in shooting sports,” he said.
Carpenter has not been hunting yet this season.
“No, I’m too busy trying to keep my job,” he said. “Hopefully after this election I will get to spend some time in the woods.”
Carpenter said he and his wife were once “huge snowmobilers,” but sold their sleds when Laura became pregnant with their first child.
“My wife is trying to encourage me to get back into it—and that’s not going to be too hard, I can tell you that,” he said.
He said he misses his sled trips to Old Forge. “Those trails are second to none that’s for sure. When the snow is good the Town of Webb is where you want to be, no question.”
Carpenter said he does a lot of camping in the Adirondacks, including Old Forge, and he enjoys bringing his kids to the water park and for hikes up Bald Mountain.
And he would not mind buying a home one day and retiring in Old Forge, he said.
“I’m not saying this to be cheesy—that is where I’d go to retire, not Florida. I love the Adirondack Park,” he said.
As for the coming election…
“I don’t feel comfortable at all,” he laughed. “I am encouraged by what I hear, but I went door to door last night, and I am going door to door again tonight. I’m still working for this. I’m not taking it for granted, that’s for sure. I’m getting all positive feedback, but I’m going to work till the last minute.”
