Political first-timers with familiar names run for Niagara County DA

Brian D. Seaman, the son of a longtime municipal attorney and the nephew of a former assemblyman and judge, faces John D. Ceretto II, the son of a former assemblyman.

Both are former assistant district attorneys; Seaman from 2006 to 2013 and Ceretto from 2013 to 2018. Both left the District Attorney's Office to enter private practice and now seek to return as the boss. The position pays $200,400 a year.

Seaman, a Republican, lives in Youngstown. Ceretto, an Independence Party member endorsed by the Democrats, resides in Lewiston.

"You have to pick a person who is capable of doing the job, who understands the job, and I would point to my experience as a felony prosecutor as one of the main reasons voters should vote for me," Seaman said. "I'd also point to the widespread support I have from law enforcement."

Seaman has been endorsed by several past and present police chiefs and former Sheriff James R. Voutour.

"It is their opinion, but I also have many police officers from all the municipalities that would do the same for me," Ceretto said.

As a prosecutor, Seaman won several convictions from juries.

"To me, the most memorable trial was Adam Hamilton," Seaman said, referring to the 2010 conviction of the Niagara Falls man on three counts of attempted murder for shooting his girlfriend and two Falls police officers. Hamilton is not eligible for parole until 2080.

Ceretto's entire time in the DA's office was spent in city and town courts.

"He's never tried a felony case. He's never handled a serious case that I'm aware of," Seaman said.

Ceretto acknowledged he's never been a prosecutor at a felony trial, but he said his courtroom experience is more recent than Seaman's. He's taken criminal defense assignments, including felonies, in the past two years, while Seaman was working as Town of Lockport attorney.

Ceretto also works in Family Court, including assignments as an attorney for children.

"Even during law school I was always attracted to criminal law," Ceretto said. "It was near and dear to my heart to follow this path."

"I love doing criminal law. I still think it's one of the most important things a lawyer can do," Seaman said.

Ceretto said he would push to expand the local array of treatment courts, including new ones to deal with defendants suffering from alcohol and gambling addictions.

"We need to use them more and grow them," Ceretto said.

"As well as punishing individuals that should be punished, there's also a direction toward rehabilitation to prevent future recidivism rates from increasing," Ceretto said. "I think that's the effectiveness that my vision does have."

Outgoing District Attorney Caroline A. Wojtaszek, a North Tonawanda Democrat, won both the Republican and Democratic primaries for county judge, as well as three minor-party lines. Her opponent for the judgeship, Michael E. Benedict of Lockport, will appear on three other minor lines.

Niagara County voters also will choose a sheriff Nov. 3. Acting Sheriff Michael J. Filicetti, a Lewiston Republican, defeated Brian D. Grear in the Democratic primary, but Grear remains the Working Families Party candidate.