Acting Cayuga County District Attorney Brittany Grome Antonacci is accusing Gov. Kathy Hochul and local Democrats of playing politics through a “backroom deal” to appoint a Democrat as the county’s top prosecutor.
Grome Antonacci made the claim in a Facebook post on Sunday, February 6, according to The Citizen. Hochul’s office is “playing politics by promising to appoint a Democrat to the position of district attorney, regardless of qualifications,” she wrote.
Grome Antonacci assumed the role of acting district attorney after Jon Budelmann resigned in December 2021. Although Grome Antonacci is fulfilling the position’s duties, it is technically vacant.
Gov. Hochul can appoint someone to the vacancy until the next election. A spokesperson for Hochul said that she is “reviewing her options” but no final decision has been made.
“Miss Antonacci really thinks that she is very entitled to this job when she’s only had it for a few weeks and she’s only lived in town for a few months,” said Dia Carabajal, chair of Cayuga County Democratic Committee. “I don’t have any more information than anyone else has…Miss Antonacci should spend her time unpacking and meeting the people of Cayuga County.”
Grome Antonacci has received support from the Cayuga County Republican Committee as well as Auburn Police Local 195, a union representing Auburn police officers. She is up for election come November.
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