Election 2020

What qualities make for the best justice?

Dame, Steingart and Jara plead their case

By Demi Budd | Manor Ink

Livingston Manor, NY – This year’s race for the position of justice in the Town of Rockland Court is between three candidates: longtime Judge Richard Dame; Scott Steingart, with 34 years of experience in law enforcement; and Karrie Jara, currently a registered nurse.

All three candidates have been through extensive preparation to become a justice, and it is not easy work.

“You have to get your name on the ballot. You have to be elected, of course. And you have to take a number of courses to become proficient to take the bench,” Dame explained. “You have to take continuing education to remain on the bench – keep up on it every year because you need to get a number of credits to stay certified.”

“To become a justice, you would contact the Board of Elections, then the chairman of a political party to be endorsed by that party,”said Jara.

Each candidate has a specific reason for putting in all of this work, though, and each has unique reasons as to why they are running for election, or, in Dame’s case, re-election.

“I always wanted to give back to the community by becoming a justice. With my experience in law enforcement, I’ve seen courts that do and don’t run efficiently, and I want to bring my knowledge to my local court and give back,” said Steingart.

Dame spoke of his tenure on the bench. “I’ve got a lot of experience. I’ve been a judge for the last eight years. With all of the changes, I think it’s beneficial to have someone who has been involved from the beginning.”

“All my life, I have strived to help people as best I can,” said Jara. “Now that my lifestyle and obligations have changed, I do not know a better opportunity for me to be able to continue toward my goal of becoming Town of Rockland Justice.”

With all of these differing and respectable motivations and drives to become  the Town of Rockland’s justice, each candidate has something that sets them apart from the others. Whether it be experience, attitude or even location, these factors are what they believe make them the best candidate.

Jara claims it is her background as a nurse that sets her apart from the other candidates.

“I have an excellent background through my present job as a New York State registered nurse,” she said. “I have learned to care for people in all ways and situations, especially treating them fairly, honestly and with respect. I have won numerous awards for my community services and dedication.”

Dame believes his values and his strong ties to the community distinguish him from his competitors.

“I have a conservative attitude. I have conservative values. I have strong ties to the community – I’ve lived here for the last 62 years and have been a member of the Livingston Manor Fire Department.”

On the other hand, Steingart believes his experience in various fields of law enforcement separates him from the pack.

“I was a police officer in Fallsburg for a few years and an Environmental Conservation officer in New York,” he said. “I know a lot about environmental protection. Most other Judges don’t really know this. They need to rely on others to get information.”

All of the candidates agree on one thing though: It takes a certain type of person to be a justice.

“You have to have a special temperament – fair and impartial. You need to have some sympathy and nice feelings about some of the people you deal with,” said Judge Dame. “It’s interesting, the ability to help some people sometimes; it’s not always punishment. It’s to get people’s problems straightened.”

To Steingart, fairness balanced with firmness makes an efficient justice.

“You want to be firm but fair. You want to be able to get people through the court system as swiftly as possible,” he said.

Jara believes that, similar to the others, a justice must be someone who can treat others with impartiality.

“I have learned how to treat everyone with respect, honesty and fairness. I have the experience and knowledge to work out problems and difficulties with the public so that all are satisfied with the best resolution. These are qualifications a justice needs to possess to perform his or her duties.”

All three candidates feel that an informed voting public is important in selecting the Town’s justice, and they urged all of Rockland’s citizens to got to the polls this Tuesday to vote. They also stressed that everyone should cast their ballot safely.