SEQUIM — The three Democratic candidates for Clallam County prosecuting attorney came out swinging during the first debate of the year earlier this week, each taking turns tossing brickbats at incumbent Deb Kelly and presenting a case for how they would do better.
Kelly, a Republican who was elected in 2002 and 2006, was not invited to the debate held by the Clallam County Democratic Club at Pioneer Memorial Park on Wednesday night.
Poor management
The Democratic candidates — attorneys Lauren Erickson, David Fox and Larry Freedman — criticized Kelly for having what they considered to be poor office and case management and high employee turnover.
“There’s poor management in the prosecutor’s office that costs the community justice and you money,” said Erickson, a Port Angeles resident and former Clallam County deputy prosecutor.
“There’s no leadership there,” said Freedman, a Sequim resident who referred to the office as having a “dark cloud” atmosphere.
Employee turnover and an age discrimination suit filed against the Clallam County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office by former employees were focal points of criticism.
“Some get fired, quit . . . but they keep leaving,” said Fox of Port Angeles.
“I see at least three [former employees] right now.”
125 percent turnover
Freedman, citing information he received through public records requests, said the office has had 125 percent turnover over the last four years.
The office, with 21 employees, about 10 of them attorneys, lost three employees in 2006, nine in 2007, five in 2008 and eight last year, he said.
“Where that hurts is in efficiency in carrying out these cases,” he said. “These cases are serious. They have to be dealt with in a serious manner.”
Asked about the turnover rate, Kelly said Thursday evening:
“I am not embarrassed that I hold people to high standards here.”
Kelly said she couldn’t verify the numbers because she was at home and not at the office.
Asked if the figures provided at the debate were accurate, she said: “I don’t know. But there has been turnover.”
The three challengers also took issue with how cases are handled.
Fox said Kelly is prosecuting too many cases herself, which he attributed to the office not having enough experienced attorneys because of employee turnover.
Lauryn Last case
Erickson said the office should not be charging Lauryn Last, a teenager, with second-degree murder for the death of her newborn baby since it was willing to offer a deal allowing Last to plead to manslaughter — a deal that Last rejected.
“To me, I just think that’s wrong” to charge her as an adult, Erickson said.
“If she won’t plea, and the facts justify offering her manslaughter in juvenile court, that’s what it should go to trial on.”
Freedman criticized Kelly for the retrial of Robert Covarrubias.
Covarrubias was convicted in April 2006 of strangling 15-year-old Melissa Leigh Carter to death, after raping her, in December 2004.
He received a new trial in 2009 after the state Court of Appeals ruled the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office did not timely disclose 16 pieces of evidence to the defense.
Covarrubias was sentenced to 34 ½ years to life in prison in 2009 after pleading guilty.
“They were not doing things properly,” Freedman said.
But what would they do differently?
Candidates’ changes
Erickson said she would move a position in the civil division over to criminal cases to better handle the criminal case load.
Fox said he would not “micromanage” employees.
Freedman said he would be tough on cases involving “vulnerable victims,” such as the elderly or disabled but would be more willing to offer plea bargains in other cases.
Each said they would have lower turnover.
Assuming all file candidacy papers during the weeklong registration period next month, the top two vote-getters in the August primary election regardless of party affiliation or incumbency will move on to the November general election.
Asked why Kelly wasn’t invited to the debate, Democratic Club President Ben Chambers said:
“Our interest is in our three candidates so we can make a judgment on who to back and vote for the primary.”
Kelly said she would have attended had she been invited but didn’t blame the group for wanting to hear from only the Democratic candidates.
“I understand that the Democrats did what they did for the members so they can hear from the candidates the party is putting forward,” she said.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
