David Soares facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Soares
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Soares in June 2008
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| District Attorney of Albany County | |
| In office January 1, 2005 – December 31, 2024 |
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| Preceded by | Paul Clyne |
| Succeeded by | Lee Kindlon |
| Personal details | |
| Born | October 26, 1969 Brava, Cape Verde |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Cornell University (BS) Albany Law School (JD) |
| Occupation | Attorney |
P. David Soares (born October 26, 1969) is an American lawyer and politician. He served as the District Attorney for Albany County, New York. A District Attorney is a public official who represents the government in legal cases. David Soares is a member of the Democratic Party.
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About David Soares' Life
Soares grew up in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. He was the youngest of six children in his family. Today, he lives in Glenmont, New York, with his wife, Stacey, and their two young children. He also has two older children from a previous marriage.
David Soares' Journey to Law
David Soares worked hard to pay for his education at Albany Law School. During his studies, he gained experience by interning at the Albany International Airport Authority. He also interned at the Albany County, New York District Attorney's office. After graduating, he was hired as an assistant district attorney.
David Soares' Political Career
Becoming District Attorney
On November 2, 2004, David Soares was elected as the Albany County District Attorney. He won against the person who held the job before him, Paul Clyne. This happened in a special election called a Democratic primary. Then, Soares won the main election against Paul Clyne and Roger J. Cusick.
Many people thought Paul Clyne would easily win again. However, Soares won by a large number of votes. His campaign also received help from the Working Families Party. This party supported Soares because he wanted to change certain drug laws. His victory was seen as a big surprise in New York politics.
- September 2004 Primary Election Results:
- David Soares: 14,909 votes (60.5%)
- Paul Clyne: 9,741 votes (39.5%)
- November 2004 General Election Results:
- David Soares (Democrat): 75,610 votes (54.6%)
- Roger J. Cusick (Republican): 57,202 votes (41.3%)
- Paul Clyne (Independence Party): 5,677 votes (4.1%)
Re-election Campaigns
David Soares ran for re-election several times.
2008 Re-election
In 2008, Soares ran for District Attorney again. Roger Cusick, who had lost to Soares in 2004, ran against him as an independent candidate. Soares won this election by a large margin. He received 73% of the votes, while Cusick received 27%.
- November 2008 Election Results:
- P. David Soares (Democrat): 80,441 votes (73%)
- Roger J. Cusick (Independent): 29,128 votes (27%)
2012 Re-election
In 2012, lawyer Lee Kindlon challenged Soares in the Democratic primary election. Soares won this primary election.
2024 Re-election
In 2024, David Soares was challenged again by Lee Kindlon in the Democratic primary. This time, Kindlon won the primary election. Soares then ran as a write-in candidate in the general election but did not win.
Future Political Plans
For a while, people wondered if Soares would run for a higher political office, like a position in Congress. He was even mentioned in Vibe Magazine where he talked about his career goals. However, Soares decided to run for re-election as District Attorney in 2008 instead.
Facing Criticism
Like many public figures, David Soares has faced some criticism during his career. Some people disagreed with his ideas about changing drug laws. Others thought he was too "soft" on certain crimes.
In 2011, Soares was criticized for not prosecuting people who were arrested during the Occupy Albany protests. These protesters were arrested for breaking a curfew. Soares explained that he believed people should be allowed to use their First Amendment right to protest, as long as no one was hurt and no property was damaged.
Awards and Public Recognition
David Soares has received several awards for his public service. In 2015, he was named one of "America's Top 10 Animal Defenders" by the Animal Legal Defense Fund. In 2014, he received the Whitney M. Young Community Partner of the Year Award. This was for hosting HIV/AIDS testing at his office's Community Justice and Outreach Center.
Soares has also held important roles in legal organizations. He served as the President of the District Attorneys Association of the State of New York (DAASNY) from July 2018 to July 2019. He is also on the Board of Directors at the New York State Prosecutors Training Institute.
Important Cases Handled by Soares' Office
The Peter Porco Murder Case
One of the first major cases handled by Soares' office was the murder of Peter Porco in 2005. Peter Porco was a lawyer. Soares' team successfully prosecuted Porco's son, Christopher Porco, for the murder. Christopher Porco was sentenced to a long time in prison. His conviction was upheld by a higher court in 2011. This case was featured in several media stories.
Government Integrity Cases
In 2006, Soares began an investigation into New York State Comptroller Alan Hevesi. Hevesi was accused of misusing state employees for personal tasks. Hevesi later pleaded guilty to one charge of defrauding the government.
Soares also investigated the "Troopergate" scandal in 2007. This involved Governor Eliot Spitzer and his staff. Soares found that they did not break any laws.
Steroids Cases
Soares' office also prosecuted several people for selling illegal steroids. Some of these sales involved Major League Baseball players. His office successfully convicted a doctor who prescribed steroids without properly examining people.
Grants and Bonus Controversy
In early 2024, reports came out that Soares was being investigated. This was about grant money his office received. It was reported that nearly $24,000 of this money was used for bonuses for himself. Soares stated his actions were legal. However, he promised to return the money. This issue was a topic of discussion during his 2024 re-election campaign.
