Brooklyn DA announces re-election bid

New York,  - Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes officially announced his bid for re-election Thursday, touting a string of high-profile endorsements as he begins what will likely be a tough battle to keep the job he has held since 1990.

Hynes made the announcement on the steps of Brooklyn Borough Hall, flanked by his family and dozens of local officials and community leaders, including former New York City mayor David Dinkins, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz and state Senator Martin Dilan.

In September, Hynes, 77, will square off in the Democratic primary against two challengers: litigator and former federal prosecutor Kenneth Thompson, 46, and Abe George, 34, a former assistant district attorney in Manhattan. Thompson made headlines when he filed a civil suit on behalf of the hotel maid who accused former International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn of sexual assault. That case settled in December for an undisclosed sum.

According to January campaign filings, Hynes has $373,165 in his war chest. Thompson has $264,252 and George has $179,673, filings showed.

At his announcement, Hynes said he had cracked down on serious crime, which had dropped 87 percent in Brooklyn, and the murder rate was at its lowest point since he took office in 1990. Hynes cited a number of crime prevention efforts implemented during his tenure, including a program to buy back handguns, reach out to domestic violence victims and help reduce criminal recidivism rates.

"There is much for us to be proud of in what we have accomplished since 1990, but much more can be done," Hynes said, according to prepared remarks.

Despite his achievements, Hynes has come under some fire in the past year from critics who have accused him of shielding the identity of sex offenders in Brooklyn's ultra-orthodox Jewish communities.

In a May 2012 Daily News op-ed article, Hynes shot back, saying that it was "absurd to suggest" that his office had covered up or downplayed these cases.

On Thursday, Hynes said he remains committed to developing "culturally sensitive programs that protect communities everywhere in Brooklyn."

Despite the number of endorsements Hynes has racked up, George said, he expected voters would see the office has been "guided by politics."

"It's a new day in Brooklyn, and I think voters are going to embrace change and reform - and that's the message we're going to send.'.

Thompson said in a statement that he looked forward to sharing his vision for the office over the coming months. "It's time for a new Brooklyn DA," he said.