VESTAL, NY (WSKG) - One of the candidates who lost last year’s race for Broome County District Attorney is now working in the new district attorney's office.
Debra Gelson was the Democratic candidate for Broome County D.A. She joins the staff of Libertarian Mike Korchak as a Senior Assistant District Attorney. According to a news release, Gelson will work in the Special Victims and Violent Crimes Bureaus. Among other cases, these units cover murder, sexual abuse and domestic violence crimes.
During the election, she touted her experience working as a prosecutor, defense attorney and judge.
Gelson finished third in November’s election behind both Korchak and Republican Paul Battisti with about 27 percent of the vote.
The race between the top two finishers was very close. Korchak topped Battisti by just 55 votes. The race came down to absentee and affidavit ballots and was the subject of a lawsuit by Battisti, who tried to force a hand recount. That push was denied by a New York Supreme Court judge.