ONLY VOTERS, NOT JENNINGS, CAN REMOVE SOARES

In response to Mayor Jennings' remarks that David Soares was hired to
do a job, I'd like to remind the mayor that Soares was not hired,
rather he was elected by the people of Albany County. The district
attorney can only be fired by those same people who put him into
office. The arrogance of Jennings and other officials who think that
they have a right to call for Soares' resignation or seek an apology
is astounding!

The mayor and others insulted by Soares' comments should read or
reread an article by the Drug Policy Alliance, written after Soares'
major electoral upset against Republican Roger Cusick, as a reminder
of why Soares won the election for district attorney in the first
place: "two reasons: first, because district attorneys have been the
main stumbling block for reform of New York state's draconian drug
laws. ... The win has also shaken up the Albany political machine
because crimes in the state Legislature fall under the Albany County
district attorney's jurisdiction. That means that the district
attorney is responsible for addressing state government corruption.
The incumbent Paul Clyne was often criticized for being soft on
corruption, and so Soares' victory has sent shivers through the
Albany political establishment."

Lastly, it seems clear that the district attorney's comments at the
Canadian conference fall within the realm of acceptable
constitutional free speech by a government employee. Such speech
ensures continuity of the democratic process rather than tyranny or
an oligarchic form of government.

Jennings pointing his finger and pronouncing that Soares was hired to
enforce the law appeared tyrannical. The conference was just another
public forum valid for discussing and informing people about issues
relevant to the job Soares was elected to perform.

Lorie J. Robinson

Glenville

The writer is a recent graduate of Albany Law School's Master in
Legal Studies program.