Bklyn D.A. Hynes Fires Back: 'Abe George Has No Understanding of the Issues'

Still 15 months away from the 2013 election of Brooklyn's next district attorney, and one hopeful candidate, Abe George, , calling the Brooklyn D.A.'s policies not proactive and politically motivated.

When asked about his opponent's critique of his 22-year record, Hynes was unfazed:

He pointed out that George, who is not yet on the ballot, "has never held a single supervisory position in law enforcement."

"I wish we would have waited until we have ballot access, instead of giving him any kind of platform when he has no understanding of the issues," said Hynes.

"In the 22 years that I've been privileged to have this job, I have enacted policies that have led to an 87 percent reduction in violent crime in Brooklyn. My record is very solid in several areas, including an aggressive community outreach in an addition to several programs reducing recidivism and incarceration."

Hynes, pointed out, his office has convicted more corrupt public officials and judges than any prosecutor in New York's history, including Assemblyman Clarence Norman, Jr. in 2005 and Assemblywoman Diane Gordan in 2008 and three judges.

"So for anyone to foolishly say that I run a political office just ignores the fact that we have demonstrated a very judicial approach to political corruption and criminal prosecution," he said.

Hynes admitted, after he came within 2.5 percentage points of losing his seat to John Sampson in the 2005 primary elections, he launched an aggressive educational campaign that had him all over the borough, present at the launch of many of the programs he was responsible for creating.

"I work very hard at my job, and I’m very very proud of the fact that what we have developed are programs aimed at reducing recidivism rates versus wharehousing despair (through incarceration)," he said. "It's a part of a strategy that involves a very strong connection with the community and police departments."

"That’s the record I’m going to run on."