A.G. Schneiderman kicks off re-election run
New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman says he's running for re-election to keep fighting corruption, both public and private.
The state's 59-year-old chief prosecutor announced his campaign Sunday at a rally outside New York City Hall before stopping in Yonkers, where four elected officials who represent Westchester County residents threw their support behind him.
Schneiderman received endorsements from U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel, state Senate Democratic leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, state Assemblywoman Shelley Mayer and Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano, according to a news release.
While at the Mexican & Latin American Independence Festivalin Yonkers, the four Democrats praised Schneiderman's record of protecting New York families and ensuring the law applies equally to everyone — no matter how rich or powerful.
"With their support, we will continue to prosecute those who steal from New Yorkers or put families in danger by pushing drugs and illegal weapons in our neighborhoods," Schneiderman said in a statement.
Yonkers was the second stop in Schneiderman's statewide campaign kickoff tour. It will continue with trips to Buffalo, Suffolk County, Nassau County, Syracuse and Albany.
Schneiderman says one of his biggest victories is a homeowner protection program that has helped more than 10,000 families keep their houses after the subprime mortgage crisis.
The attorney general also succeeded last month in obtaining more than $16 billion from the Bank of America to resolve financial misconduct charges.
Schneiderman was also endorsed Sunday by other fellow Democrats including New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Comptroller Scott Stringer and Public Advocate Letitia James.
He faces Republican candidate John Cahill.
Staff writer Greg Shillinglaw and The Associated Press contributed to this report.