Nassau DA Rice announces run for state AG

One day after she delayed her long-anticipated announcement because of the Saturday night car-bomb threat in Times Square, Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice made it official yesterday: She’s running for state attorney general.

“Today marks the beginning of a campaign we’ll run together,” Rice wrote in an e-mail to supporters that linked to a video on her campaign website. “With your help, I’ll be able to share my tough and innovative record of reform with our state.”

The Garden City Democrat said in an interview that she’ll announce the support of several downstate county party chairs in the next few weeks and expects to secure a place on the ballot at the state Democratic Convention later this month.

While Rice is one of at least five contenders in the Democratic field, no Republican has yet entered the race. Yesterday, Alex Carey, the state GOP spokesman, said Staten Island District Attorney Dan Donovan is close to making a decision on whether to run.

“Obviously, she’s experienced,” Carey said of Rice, “but we think Dan is the man for the job.”

Nassau Republican chairman Joe Mondello said that although he’d certainly back the Republican in a potential contest with Rice, any GOP candidate faces no easy task in beating her. As district attorney, Rice has been innovative, he said, and never a “political pawn.”

“The few times that I have been in her company I have seen somebody that is extremely capable,” Mondello said, “someone who has the right attitude toward the criminal law.”

Rice, 45, declined to speculate on a race against Donovan, or any other Republican, saying she’ll “cross that bridge when I get to it in September,” the month of the primary vote.

Jay Jacobs, the state party chairman and head of Nassau’s Democrats, said he’s sure the GOP will produce a candidate, but not a true contender.

“Unless something unusual occurs,” Jacobs said, “this will be a Democratic seat when it’s all said and done.”

Other than Rice, those known to be vying for the nomination are Eric Dinallo, the state’s former superintendent of insurance; Assemb. Richard Brodsky and former federal prosecutor Sean Coffey, both of Westchester County; and state Sen. Eric Schneiderman of Manhattan.

Rice did not answer when asked who she considers her toughest opposition. She said the field offers a “distinct choice” and voters will respond to her record and give her the win.

“I have a record of instituting the kind of reform and transparency that New Yorkers want in their government right now,” Rice said.