Jack Martins: Madeline Singas has ‘demeaned’ DA’s office

Jack Martins, the Republican candidate for Nassau County executive, has taken aim at a surprising new target, accusing District Attorney Madeline Singas, a Democrat, of politicizing her office.

In an interview last week, Martins said Singas “has demeaned the role of her office” by advocating for ethics law changes that do not involve criminality.

Singas has called for the hiring of an inspector general to oversee county contracts, a move that followed a series of political corruption indictments. She also has questioned the legality of Nassau lawmakers’ use of taxpayer-funded mailings for promotional purposes.

“I would love to see the district attorney be less political in her approach,” said Martins, a former state senator and Mineola mayor. “Unfortunately for the county and for that office she’s been more political than she should be. And that’s a shame.”

Singas spokesman Brendan Brosh said “it is nonsensical to suggest that a DA in a county plagued by corrupt government should not use her position to press for stronger and more transparent financial oversight. DA Singas will continue to prosecute corrupt Republicans and Democrats without fear or favor and will not be sidelined by politicians who want to preserve the broken status quo.”

It’s unusual for the county executive — or the candidates running for that office — to criticize the district attorney. County Executive Edward Mangano, a Republican who is not running for re-election, avoided criticizing Singas or her predecessor, Democrat Kathleen Rice, now a Democratic House member.

Martins faces Democrat Laura Curran, a Nassau County legislator from Baldwin, in the Nov. 7 election.

By Robert Brodsky

robert.brodsky@newsday.com@BrodskyRobert

Robert Brodsky is a breaking news reporter who has worked at Newsday since 2011. He is a Queens College and American University alum.