Mary Iocovozzi says she is the right candidate, with the experience and credentials to be an effective Herkimer County District Attorney.

Iocovozzi has been practicing law for 30 years, having received her degree from Pace University School of Law.

Two years ago she had a strong second place showing in the race for Family Court Judge. Her laws skills are easily transferable to a criminal court setting, she said.

Throughout her campaign, Iocovozzi has contrasted her lack of outside obligations with her opponent.

Jeff Carpenter, in addition to serving as Acting District Attorney, teaches a significant course-load at Herkimer County Community College.

Iocovozzi believes that kind of obligation to a second employer would necessarily impair a person’s ability to serve effectively as DA.

To support her conclusion, she states that between January and August of this year only one of 108 felony charges have gone to trial, many of the rest having been dispensed by means not involving a trial.

That sends a weak signal to felony offenders, Iocovozzi said.

And she said a District Attorney can and should do better in sending a message that felony crimes will not be tolerated.

“Again, I just don’t see someone having enough time to be a full-time prosecutor and also teaching students full-time, and having those dual obligations,” she said.

Iocovozzi said her 10 years of work in family court, where the same criminal laws apply, had her acting in effect as prosecutor. She also has worked cases in local criminal courts, she said.

“I know how to argue cases, I know how to present evidence. And I have a good sense of justice. I don’t owe anybody anything. I’m a very honest person—that’s how we were brought up as children. I look carefully at things and I exercise good judgment,” she said.

Beyond her professional competence, Iocovozzi said she is proud be a choice for voters seeking a non-establishment candidate.

She is also vocal in her opposition to a county government that she says has become a culture of insiders.

“The larger issue here is cronyism,” she said. “Once you’re in, you’re part of an insular group.”

Iocovozzi said she ran into the real world effects of this establishment culture when she tried to run for Family Court Judge two years ago.

She said it was made clear to her that the Republican party would not be supporting her and she would be opposed if she tried to seek the nomination in a primary.

She left and became a Democrat, she said.

This kind of insularity is not good for Herkimer County, Iocovozzi said, comparing it to England’s “Right of Succession.”

“We’re losing all our talent. My kids are gone, they didn’t stay here. So many young people have to leave because there’s no work. Those on the inside take care of one another, and the rest are left out,” she said.

And women have particular difficulty, she said. She notes that Herkimer County has never had a woman District Attorney.

“It has to stop at some point. And I’m hoping it stops with this election,” Iocovozzi said.

“I did very well last time, and I’m hoping that I can win this time.”

She said again that above all, she believes herself to be the better candidate.

“Like I said, I’m a very good attorney and prosecutor. I know how to get evidence in. I know how to do trials. I do trials all the time.”