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BEDFORD, N.Y. Former Bedford Supervisor John R. Dinin was sworn in Wednesday morning to take over for the late Justice Kevin Quaranta until the end of 2012. Quaranta had served as Bedford's Town Justice since 2004 until he passed away unexpectedly last month at the age of 56.
The Bedford Town Board released a statement announcing Dinins appointment to serve as Justice until the end of the year, which was decided by unanimous vote Tuesday evening:
"The Town Board can think of no one more qualified to assume this position by virtue of his exemplary and extensive service to the Town of Bedford."
Dinin was elected to a seat on Bedford's town board in January 1990 and became Town Justice in July 1994 when he was appointed to fill the seat of Justice Jeff Buchanan, who passed away while in office. In 1995, he was elected to that seat.
In June 1995, Dinin resigned to take over for Supervisor Joe DelSindaco, who resigned. In 1996, Dinin officially ran for the seat as a Republican and won. He resigned as supervisor in 2003, and current Supervisor Lee V.A. Roberts was appointed to finish out his unexpired term.
Dinin, who lives in Bedford, recently retired from his position as special adviser to the Manhattan district attorney, at whose office he worked for 14 years. He has worked as counsel for the New York Banking Association in addition to practicing law privately.
Roberts said she is glad that Dinin accepted the position, not only because of his distinguished history of serving the town but because he has lived in Bedford a long time and knows its people.
"He is a wonderful guy. Hes knowledgeable about the court, and he is knowledgeable about working with the police because thats been his career, Roberts said.
A Town Justice who will take over for Dinin will be elected in November and begin service on January 1, 2013, finishing out Quaranta's unexpired term.
Each political party has been called upon to nominate a candidate to run for the spot in November. The Bedford Democratic Committee has already endorsed Bedford Village resident David Menken, who was nominated at an August 8 meeting of the group.
Menken works an attorney in White Plains and currently serves as the chairman of Bedfords Zoning Board of Appeals as well as president of the Bedford Village Fire Department.
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