Politics & Government

Bedford Town Justice Q&A: Erik Jacobsen

Erik Jacobsen is an incumbent Bedford Town Justice and the Republican candidate for the office. This interview was edited for formatting but not for content:

Patch: 
Why are you running?

Jacobsen: My primary motivation is the families of Bedford and surrounding communities, the young people that come before me in the Court who I work with through 20 or more yearscriminal law experience and nearly 20 years of involvement with the Drug and Alcohol Council. 

I grew up in Town, I attended our Local Schools with my 3 brothers and my sister.  My parents Lynn and Alfred Jacobsen still reside in Town, my brother Fred Jacobsen lives and works in Town.   My wonderful wife Janet and I both live and work in Town, and together we have 17 nieces and nephews; the oldest attending his first year at college. 

I have a deep commitment to the Community which is proven through my civic experience, from an Eagle Scout as a young man, to Board member Parks and Recreation, to Board Member Historic Society, to Bedford Riding Lanes Association, to the Bedford Hills Neighborhood Association (my wife Janet is the President); too many to name them all.  

And I have a deep commitment to the Community proven through my legal experience.  Before being elected I worked for 15 years every Thursday night in the local criminal court with the 18 B Council; representing families that could not afford their own attorney.  And before being elected I worked for 15 years with many families and the drug and alcohol council; I worked to obtain appropriate evaluation, treatment, education and community service, to improve their lives.
Please see my website www.ErikForBedford.com

The Law is in a way, much like medicine.   Just as you likely would not go to a foot doctor for a sinus issue; if you or a family member were to appear before our Court you would likely choosean attorney with criminal law experience or drug and alcohol experience.

Lets face it, kids make mistakes.  It takes experience, education, treatment, therapy, community service, to turn lives around.  I have been doing that for 20 years.  

I like to say we are the only business in Town that does Not want a repeat customer.  I want the youth to do well in school, to not only succeed in college but to excel, and have employment and a happy family in the future.  If you can catch and treat an issue early you stand a chance at creating a happy life.  I have been doing that for 20 years. 
 

Patch: Why should voters choose you for re-election? 

Jacobsen: I know I have the experience that counts; the experience in our local courts with many of our local families, for a local court Judicial position.   I know what I have been doing for the past 20 years.; the past 4 as your Justice. 

I understand that my opponent is 73 years old, and accordingly has longer term legal experience.  But I hope that the educated voter would examine the area of my opponents experience and compare.

I understand that my opponent has done malpractice work, or personal injury work; but that is not what our Court does. I have never seen her claim she has done criminal law or drug and alcohol matters.  I have practiced in our local courts for 20 years, and though I know her socially, I do not recall ever seeing her in the local courts.
 
I hope the educated voter will 'read between the lines' and take a hard look at my opponents experience, or simply ask her about her experience, and then take a hard look at what I have accomplished as an attorney and as your Town Justice.
The voter will have to decide what is important to them and the Town.   



Patch: How well is the town's court system being handled?   Would you change anything?

Jacobsen: The Bedford Court system runs extremely well.  I have dedicated just about every single day of the last 4 years by going into Courtevery day and I did make many changes.  

For example, I made changes to the procedure, I added Court Conferences starting before Court running 5:30 - 7:00 where the district attorney, client's attorney, and the client and family as age appropriate, can sit with me in Chambers and discuss the case.

I brought the Drug Council into our Court; where through appropriate education, evaluation, community service,  the life of the youthis changed, and where we seek growth and opportunity, especially for first time offenders, rather than harming their college application,college or career.  

Some changes were forced upon us.  We had two full time employees removed due to budget cutbacks; additionally, we had our Senior Court Clerkof 22 years retire, we had another Court Clerk of 15 years retire.  So there were staffing issues that have been obstacles and made the job harder.I thank all of my staff for their hard work and dedication, frankly without my court clerks and staff we could not run the Court; and I thank them for being a large part of getting through difficult times and pitching in where able.   

There is too much to go through here, but for example, I handled the bail account issue, an issue that had been ongoing for more than 20 years; I changed the way bail was taken and we now have assistance from the State to clear this issue up once and for all.  And we worked very hardto get state grants, for such things as a copy machine, carts, shelving, scanners, head sets, etc..  Or for example we increased our intern programs.

Many understand that the issue of Drug and Alcohol can be devastating for families.  Let me explain to you how this is being, in part, addressed in Bedford. 

1.   Law Day is held each year, in Bedford it was last held April 30, 2013 and was dedicated to The Honorable Kevin J. Quaranta.   Attorneys and Judges attend many events including High School classes and speak on a number of subjects, including brushes with the law Before they occur.
2.   We in the Bedford Court have a high school and college intern program where students attend the Court, and sit in during conference and the calendar. 
3.   Detective Joseph Cumunale and Detective William Smith run an Explorer program to educate many of our local youth.  They have received many honors including Police Officer of the Year.  I participate with the program each year. 
4.   Detectives Cumunale and Smith have had many elementary classes, including the DARE program come to the Court Room; I participate with the program each year. 
5.  There is of course The Bedford Lewisboro Pound Ridge Drug Abuse Prevention Council Our Community's Drug Abuse Prevention Coalition.   This coalition led by Patty Warble, Executive Director has done an incredible job addressing areas of parenting classes and drug and alcohol abuse prevention.  I have met with and continue to correspond with Patty Warble.  
6.   And there is The Mount Kisco Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Council; I have worked with families seeking the counsels assistance for nearly 20 years now and have volunteered where able.     The Mount Kisco and Bedford Lewisboro Pound Ridge programs differ, in that Mount Kisco together with Mel Berger, the award winning chairman, are directly involved with the Court finding and monitoring appropriate treatment After a charge is filed.  

So if asked, how well is the Court system being handled ?  With pride I tell you extremely well.  There will always be changes as the circumstances change. If I had to change one thing, it would be more participation with the drug council, with the budget cutbacks, loss of employees, etc..  I have not accomplished all that I want to.  

I thank the community for their support.  And I again ask for your vote, so that I may continue my hard work for the Town.  


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