NYC Council Member Brad Lander - NYC Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito

July 26, 2010

Kathleen Rice
Nassau County District Attorney
262 Old Country Road
Mineola, NY 11501

Dear Ms. Rice,

As progressives who have fought for core values like a woman's right to choose, civil liberties,
and a judiciary that appreciates civil rights, among many others, we were distressed to learn that
you did not see any reason to cast a vote for Al Gore over George Bush in 2000, while you were
living in a battleground state, no less. As you know, this was literally the closest presidential
election in history, where the stakes could not be higher and where an individual's vote,
particularly in a swing state like Pennsylvania, could not be more important.

To explain this decision, you have used the excuse that "like a lot of young adults early in their
professional lives, I failed to see the political significance of casting a ballot." However, let us be
clear: you were not a young person at this time, but a 35-year-old practicing attorney.

In all candor, if you could not see the "political significance" in voting for Al Gore over George
Bush, one of the most destructive presidents of all time, then we have serious reason to question
your judgment and commitment to core progressive values.

What was it that made such a decision so difficult? Did you fail to see the political significance
of Bush's promise to appoint anti-choice judges, his obsession with Iraq, or his commitment to
eroding civil liberties? With all due respect, we believe that until such time that you can explain
this decision, you are ill-suited to represent the Democratic Party as our nominee for Attorney
General.

Sincerely,
Brad Lander & Melissa Mark-Viverito
New York City Council Members