Clallam: Prosecuting attorney candidates debate

Published 12:01 am Wednesday, October 2, 2002

SEQUIM — Prosecuting attorney candidates argued over conviction rates Tuesday during a debate before Sequim-Dungeness Chamber of Commerce members.

Incumbent Chris Shea, D-Sequim, claimed a 75 percent conviction rate on violent crimes.

His opponent Deb Kelly, R-Port Angeles, claimed the rate is less than 50 percent.

“Our streets our safe,” said Shea, who is seeking a second four-year term.

“Fifty percent of the cases shouldn’t go away or become something else,” Kelly countered.

Despite the different takes on conviction rates, Tuesday’s debate lacked the heat of one a week ago where Shea slammed Kelly over having two convictions overturned by the state appeals court because of prosecutorial misconduct.

Kelly previously said Shea only made it a campaign issue because he trailed in the Sept. 17 primary election by 16 percentage points.

The primary has no bearing on who is elected in the Nov. 5 general election.

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