Yonkers Insider: OPED by Marie Bell: The Race for Westchester District Attorney: A call for unity of vision in the face of defeat.

“In all things that are purely social we can be as separate as the fingers, yet one as the hand in all things essential to mutual progress.”

Westchester County residents will have four months to ponder the above words of our famous educator, author, and orator, Booker T. Washington, as in early November it will be time to apply these words in electing our next Westchester District Attorney and other leaders, regardless of whom our choice was in the bygone Democratic Primary elections. 

More importantly, this short period will also prove whether the two opposing candidates in the Primary will demonstrate their professed motivations during their respective campaigns to advance justice principles in the good of Westchester. This they can do by ignoring personal defeat and encouraging their supporters to embrace “mutual progress” in supporting the Democratic nominee, retired Judge, Susan Cacace. This action of forming a unifying front would augur well for both, in ensuring a legacy devoid of personal expediency and self-interest. Afterall, as once aspiring leaders, their loyal supporters are entitled to their direction now more than ever, having followed both of them in embracing a vision that did not resonate at the polls.

The test of a unifying leader has already been passed by the winning candidate Susan Cacace, when on June 20^th five days before the Primary her campaign published a call for unity, “no matter the outcome,” And amidst the elation of Primary night and again, two days following, took the time to publicly remind Westchester that, “As we move forward, I’m committed to uniting our community. This victory belongs to all of us who believe in a fair and just legal system. Let’s rally behind this vision as we head into the general election.”  She further made a pledge to those who have not yet seen her vision, “To those who did not vote for me, I vow to work very hard through November to share my plans and vision for this office and earn your support so that we can emerge from this campaign cycle united as Democrats, as a County under the leadership of this District Attorney's Office and working toward safety through the balance of justice with compassion I’ve talked about.” 

The vision she speaks of is the mutual progress expressed by Booker T. Washington. 

Biography: Marie Bell is a resident of Westchester, an author, with recent sexual violence trauma-informed advocacy work at Columbia University, leadership in higher education criminal justice program, and law enforcement experience.