Prosecutor In Etan Patz Case To Run For Staten Island District Attorney

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Republicans have tapped the lead prosecutor in the Etan Patz murder trial to run for Staten Island district attorney.

Joan Illuzzi-Orbon will face off against former Democratic candidate Michael McMahon.

Illuzzi-Orbon is a longtime assistant district attorney in Manhattan and chief of the hate crimes unit. She was selected as the Republican nominee on Sunday.

Unless Gov. Andrew Cuomo calls a special election, the two will go up against each other in the fall.

Former Staten Island district attorney Dan Donovan became a congressman last month, replacing Michael Grimm who resigned in January after pleading guilty to tax fraud.

(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)