Two on the ballot for Orange County District Attorney

David Hoovler

Why are you running for Orange County District Attorney?

I’m running for re-election as Orange County District Attorney because justice isn’t a moment — it’s a mission. Over the past term, we’ve built one of New York’s most effective, technology-driven DA’s offices. But criminal threats evolve. My commitment is to keep Orange County ahead of those threats by protecting victims, supporting law enforcement, and ensuring a system that is both swift and fair.

What are the top three things you aim to accomplish if elected?

If re-elected, my focus will be on executing our comprehensive 5-Point Improvement Plan, prioritizing these top three goals:

First, Technology and Information Dominance. We will expand our Digital Discovery Platform to streamline case preparation and disclosure, and we will continue strengthening our Digital Forensics Unit — the only one of its kind in an upstate DA’s office — to support every police department with faster, higher-quality evidence analysis.

Second, Targeting Priority Crimes. We will intensify top-down prosecutions that dismantle criminal organizations. My focus remains on the networks fueling the fentanyl crisis, those trafficking illegal firearms into our communities, and aggressive DWI offenders who endanger every driver on our roads.

Third, Combating Fraud and White-Collar Crime. We will dedicate additional resources to protect residents from financial fraud, public corruption, and predatory home-improvement practices. This includes enhanced training, improved victim support, and stronger partnerships with state and local agencies.

Why are you the best candidate for this position?

I am the best candidate because I offer proven leadership and a proactive vision for modern prosecution. My qualifications are evidenced by my extensive background as a former police detective and Department of Justice trial attorney, and by the measurable results of my tenure — including an overall decrease in crime in Orange County since taking office. When New York’s Criminal Justice Reforms reshaped the landscape, our office adapted and led - standing up the Early Case Assessment Bureau to keep cases moving and deploying a countywide digital discovery system that gets evidence to defense counsel quickly and transparently. We back our police with specialized training, invest in tools that make cases stronger, and engage deeply with our communities to prevent crime before it happens.

With your support, we will keep Orange County safe, modern, and just — one case, one victim, and one neighborhood at a time.

Alan Joseph

Why are you running for Orange County District Attorney?

I believe the residents of Orange County deserve a change. Dave Hoovler has been District Attorney for 12 years - three election cycles/terms. The events of the last few years have exposed an office led by a man of questionable ethics and integrity who refused to recuse himself from the Megan McDonald cold case investigation even though he had represented one of the main suspects while in private practice and continued to refuse to recuse himself until after the suspect was arrested. His actions, or refusal to act, required the appointment of a Special Prosecutor after a suspect was arrested, rather than during the early stages of the investigation, resulting in the initial release of the suspect from jail while the Special Prosecutor brought herself up to speed on the case. I am also running after learning of the Soudani/Rosenwasser incident where one of his top administrative prosecutors (a man he worked for in private practice and eventually became a partner with) was able to run a rogue operation while employed in the DA’s Office. Hoovler’s response to the incident (absolute deniability), as well as his failure to conduct a meaningful investigation of his own office through an independent, outside agency lacks the integrity and transparency the public deserves from that office.

What are the top three things you aim to accomplish if elected?

Restore integrity, transparency and respect for the office.

Establish a comprehensive training program for all ADA’s.

Conduct a comprehensive review of the office’s organizational structure to determine whether current resources are being used and distributed efficiently.

Why are you the best candidate for this position?

I have been a practicing attorney for over 45 years, was the Chief Assistant District Attorney for Orange County for over five years, have worked for the Legal Aid Society, have represented many clients in civil and criminal matters, and am well respected by current and past members of law enforcement and the courts. While Chief Assistant, I was responsible for the hiring, training and supervision of the entire office. Since leaving the office, I have run a successful law practice for over 34 years.