Orange County District Attorney Frank Phillips is bowing out of this year’s election after all. With his on-again, off-again reelection campaign at an end, the contest to succeed the 28-year incumbent is apparently between Republican David Hoovler and Democrat Michael Isgur. Phillips announced in January that he would not seek an eighth term (NYLJ, Feb. 1), announced in March that he would run after all (NYLJ, March 19) and this week issued a statement that he will not seek reelection.
In an emailed statement, Phillips said it became clear that Republican committee members "want to move in another direction." He also said he would not grant interviews. Hoovler said in an interview that when Phillips first announced that he would not seek reelection, the GOP threw its support behind Hoovler. After Phillips changed his mind, all 23 town committees stood behind their commitment to Hoovler’s candidacy, he said.
