Rockefeller Drug Law reform has become a major issue in the Democratic AG primary, a way for the candidates – particularly Sen. Eric Schneiderman – to buff their liberal credentials and/or slam opponents (namely Nassau County DA Kathleen Rice) for not being liberal enough to pass muster with minority voters.

But the AG contenders aren’t the only primary candidates using drug law reform as a campaign platform.

Queens Assemblyman Jeff Aubry, the original sponsor of legislation to overhaul the draconian 1970s-era sentencing laws (actually, he wanted to repeal them altogether, if I remember correctly, and also restore full discretion to judges), is mailing on this topic.

The piece quotes a Times piece that lauded Aubry, saying he “led a one-man crusade” against drug law reform.

Aubry is being challenged by Anthony Miranda, a former staffer of expelled ex-Sen. Hiram Monserrate who co-founded the the Latino Officers Association with Monserrate when they served in the NYPD together. The duo also successfully sued the department for discrimination.

Interestingly, while the Queens Democratic Party has endorsed Rice in the AG’s race, Aubry is a holdout. According to his spokeswoman Lupe Todd, the DA is “not an option” for him.

Rice has insisted she was always a supporter of drug law reform. But she raised concerns about the most recent round of changes enacted in last year’s budget, and also didn’t protest when the state DAs Association (then headed by the GOP AG contender, Staten Island DA Dan Donovan) lobbied against them.

Second Chance Mailer

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