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mailman10 Reasons to vote for Ed Kopko for Tompkins County District Attorney:

1. Kopko is THE man women go to for help. He has a record of making victims whole when they are harmed by terrible acts.

2. Kopko is known for taking police brutality cases. He is a reliable, educated antiracist lawyer for the most brutalized populations. Kopko was a cop before becoming a lawyer, and has put officers on notice; they will be prosecuted when they break the law.

3. Kopko stands up to the status quo and wins - wrongful arrest, excessive use of force, civil rights violations, racial and homophobic biases,violations of free speech.

4. Kopko listens and learns. He admits not knowing everything and has taken the time study racism, homophobia, transphobia, and misogyny by talking with real people about real problems. He is a doer.

5. Kopko goes after bullies. He bullies the bullies by taking them to court and making them pay for their cruelty.

6. Kopko believes the judicial system must serve ALL people; privilege must be eliminated! He won’t put nonviolent people in jail. He will ensure violent criminals are humanely secured while making alternatives to incarceration accessible to all people, not just those with bail money. Rose DeGroat and Cadji Ferguson are being set up by Van Houten who is siding with the cops that should be in jail.

7. Kopko will create a Special Sexual Assault Response Team. Specially trained Assistant DAs will be hired to investigate sexual violence against children, women, lesbians, transgender people and gay men. Van Houten has stated that he has taken no training in the past four years to learn how to better serve marginalized communities.

8. Kopko is an ally to the queer community. He is the lawyer for Sarah Crews, a queer police officer who was awarded a special citation in recognition of bravery under fire while arresting a man firing a weapon. Crews was forced to sue the City of Ithaca for discrimination and failure to protect LGBTQ officers.

9. Kopko understands what harassment is and will do something about it. In November 2016 campaigning with a group of people, I was holding a sign that read, "KOPKO will protect Muslims, Women, LGBTQ,BLM. VOTE KOPKO.” A white supremacist stopped his truck in the street and began yelling and threatened us with a gun. I reported this incident to the IPD and was told they would not pursue the incident and told me that I should move if I felt threatened. UNACCEPTABLE!

10. Kopko will clearly establish expectations of behavior for the police and the district attorney’s office. He will mandate trainings and hold people accountable. The public will feel safer because they will be safer.

Our votes can make Tompkins County a safe haven in a country full of disturbing inequities in law enforcement and the judicial system. Join me in voting for Ed Kopko for District Attorney. It’s time our government serves the people instead of terrorizing us.

Joanne Cipolla-Dennis
Freeville, NY

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