Morganthau Opponent Expected to Announce

This year's election for Manhattan District Attorney will be an interesting race. This morning a well known judge is expected to announce her candidacy to take on 8-term incumbent Robert Morganthau. WNYC's Richard Hake reports.

Leslie Crocker Snyder is expected to address supporters at a fundraising breakfast this morning. The 63-year-old used to prosecute in the Manhattan DA's office. She was appointed judge in Criminal Court in 1983 by then Mayor Ed Koch.

Snyder retired from the bench last year, but now has the backing of former US attorney Mary Jo White along with some ten police unions. She supports the death penalty, using alternative sentencing for non-violent offenders and wants Rockefeller Drug law reform.

Snyder will have a tough fight. She's trying to unseat fellow democrat Robert Morganthau. Yesterday he was endorsed by a group made up of women elected to public office. He's 85-years-old and has been Manhattan's top prosecutor since 1975.