Anne Donnelly, a county prosecutor for more than 30 years, was sworn in as Nassau County District Attorney on Wednesday during an inauguration ceremony at Nassau Police Department’s David S. Mack Center for Training and Intelligence in Garden City.
In a speech after reciting her oath to office, the Republican pledged to make good on her cornerstone campaign promise to fight for changes to state bail reform laws.
“For 32 years I served this county as a prosecutor, never thinking about running for office,” Donnelly said. “The principles that guided me throughout my career of public service will continue to be my focus as DA: ensuring that Nassau County – our home – remains one of the safest places in the world. My office will work hard for you every day.”
Donnelly took the reins from Acting District Attorney Joyce Smith, who served since June 2021 after former DA Madeline Singas left for a seat on the New York State Court of Appeals. Donnelly was voted into office in the November 2021 election, beating out her opponent, Democrat Todd Kaminsky, the state senator from Long Beach.
Rick Whalen, executive assistant district attorney, who says he’s known Donnelly for more than 30 years, presided over the ceremony on Wednesday and spoke highly of his colleague. “She’s what we call a whole prosecutor,” he said. “She is smart, personable, passionate about her work, and fair to a fault.”
As top prosecutor, in addition to lobbying for changes to bail reform, Donnelly is committed to “increasing resources in the area of technology and internet crimes, furnishing more assistance for at-risk individuals, supporting office staff and law enforcement officers during increasingly difficult times, and providing education and positive alternatives for young people,” according to her office.
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