Attorney Michael Bass says he will again run for Cayuga County District Attorney, seeking endorsement on every party line except the Republicans'.

Bass unsuccessfully challenged 14-year incumbent and his one-time boss James Vargason in 2003, but he has never forgotten his dream to be the county's top prosecutor.

“If you run for something and you lose, you think about it. I've been thinking about it for 3.5 years,” Bass said Wednesday.

He wants to be Cayuga County's top prosecutor because of the sense of duty instilled in the job. “As a prosecutor, you can really feel good about what you're doing,” Bass said.

Bass moved last year to St. Lawrence County where his wife, Christy, secured the chief clerk position with that county's Family Court and he joined the St. Lawrence County's Public Defender's office.

He has submitted his resignation, which will be effective next week, to show Cayuga County voters that he is serious about his home area's top law enforcement position.

He and Christy, both Cayuga County natives, have expressed being homesick. They have several nieces and nephews they would like to be around for.

“There's no place like home. I was born here, raised here,” Bass said.

Between now and November's election, Bass will be practicing criminal law out of Dennis Sedor's law office and will live in his childhood home in Mentz. Christy is keeping her position in St. Lawrence County, but is seeking jobs closer to Cayuga County and will be an active campaign presence, Bass said.

Bass has previously worked as a Cayuga County Assistant District Attorney and a criminal defense attorney with cases in Cayuga County Court, in federal court and six other central New York counties.

Bass said there is never a perfect time to run for countywide office, but that 2007 presents his strongest chance to win with Vargason stepping down. Vargason, who had run unchallenged in 1999, prevailed with 63 percent of the vote in 2003.

Jon Budelmann, the Chief Assistant District Attorney since 1995 is the expected Republican candidate.

Bass said he gained two things from his stint in St. Lawrence County: “One you appreciate home more. (Two), it gave me the experience as an administrator.”

He managed six other public defenders, a budget of close to a $1 million and 1,000 criminal cases as well as Family Court cases. He had to administrate a budget and deal with county legislators.

“I think that makes me the more experienced candidate,” Bass said.

If elected, Bass said he will be in court trying the most important and serious cases - a revival of a campaign critique he raised in 2003 against Vargason. Budelmann handles Cayuga County's regular, biweekly felony criminal calendars.

“I think it's really important that the person the citizens of this county elect as the face, the chief representative of Cayuga County in criminal cases, should be the chief face trying the felony calendar,” Bass said.

Bass said his extensive and successful trial experience will help him win homicide, rape and robbery cases.

Relationships with parallel criminal justice agencies should be strengthened by appointing specific members of the district attorney's office to liaison with law enforcement agencies and municipal courts, Bass said.

He said his focus on communication will parallel the focus of recently-elected Cayuga County Sheriff David Gould.

A mixture of prosecutorial and defense experience will make him a well-balanced adjudicator in cases that are not always black-and-white, Bass said.

“It's good to see the other side. It makes it easier to do justice. You have to be able to keep your perceptions about you, ” Bass said. “You can't get tunnel vision. You have to keep your wits about you.”

Attorney Norm Chirco, who declined to run for district attorney, will be Bass' campaign manager. Other committee positions have not yet been decided, Bass said.

Staff writer Amaris Elliott-Engel can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or at amaris.elliot-engel@lee.net