Eric Sapetto Siddall, the immediate past vice president of the Los Angeles Association of Deputy District Attorneys and a current Los Angeles County deputy district attorney, officially entered the 2024 race for Los Angeles County District Attorney on Monday. Siddall has served for nearly a decade as the union’s vice president and as a director, and just last week, stepped down from the post in order to declare his candidacy.
“We need to advance a violence reduction strategy focused on holding the most violent criminals accountable, while recognizing the potential for rehabilitation. We need to develop an infrastructure to deal with our mentally ill and homeless populations that does not involve cycled incarceration, but also recognizes that releasing people back onto the street without a plan is a danger to everyone, including the defendant,” said Siddall.
Siddall, a labor leader, openly gay Latino father, Democrat, and career prosecutor, is challenging the incumbent District Attorney George Gascón on a platform of advocating for responsible reform while prioritizing public safety. He vows to combat gun violence and fight crime, restore competency and trust in the district attorney’s office, and institute sustainable, responsible reform.
“Too many working families, seniors, women, young people and marginalized communities are living in fear for their safety. Gun violence is rampant. We are facing a homelessness crisis. And the morale among frontline prosecutors and police alike — the people we depend on to keep us all safe — is at a historic low.”
“As district attorney, I’ll transform the office by empowering frontline prosecutors and having their back so they can do the job they were hired to do. I have sounded the alarm on the staffing crisis that has left fewer prosecutors working in L.A. than at any other time in my 16-year career. Under my leadership, I will work to fully fund the district attorney’s office, partner with local community groups, police, and sheriffs to fight back against gangs, crime, and illegal guns; collaborate with county leaders to address homelessness; and prioritize mental health, real housing solutions, drug diversion and addiction services. I’ll fight to enact common sense criminal justice reforms, and focus on ones that are evidence-based, not based on ideology. I’ll work to improve our system of justice for all people and all communities. As a law enforcement leader in Los Angeles County, I’ll make it clear to any and all criminals that the George Gascón party is over.
While the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s race appears non-partisan on the ballot, registered Democrats make up 53.5% of voters. Registered Republicans make up only 17.2% of the county’s electorate. Siddall emerges as the most formidable Democrat taking on Gascón.
