Steck endorses Kindlon for Albany DA

Assemblyman Phil Steck on Thursday endorsed Lee Kindlon for Albany County district attorney.

Kindlon is a defense attorney running against David Soares, who has served in the position for nearly 20 years.

Soares was criticized earlier this year for giving himself a more than $20,000 raise from a state grant, which he later returned.

Steck has called for Soares to resign.

“I think it shows very poor judgment and the idea that the district attorney would say ‘I’m going to pay back the money.’ Boy, what an argument for a defense attorney, you say: ‘Well, gee. He’ll just pay back the money and everything will be fine. That’s not how it works,” Steck said at a news conference.

“This is a matter of principle and I think we need someone to defend principle in the district attorney’s office. And furthermore, to come up with solutions, working with the police so that we can address high-crime areas in our county,” he went on to say.

NewsChannel 13 reached out to Soares’ office but has not heard back.

Soares’ campaign sent out the following statement at 5 p.m.:

“There is no value in an endorsement from a complete hypocrite like Phil Steck, who doubles down on ill-advised public safety policies that wreak havoc on our residents and businesses. Mr. Steck supports laws that allow teenagers to possess loaded firearms without consequences, and other laws that let shoplifters steal repeatedly. Considering that Mr. Steck has always endorsed my opponents, I too would like to thank him for his consistency as his track record in my races speaks for itself.”

In response to Soares’ comment, Steck provided the following statement to NewsChannel 13.

“Mr. Soares is clearly desperate and trying to scare people with wild accusations that lack a basis in actual fact. No reasonable person would take the position that he is attributing to me. This is exactly why he should no longer be District Attorney.”