DEM CANDIDATES TOUT QUALIFICATIONS COUNTY ATTORNEY NOMINEES MEET AT FORUM

The two Democratic candidates vying to become the next Johnson County
attorney are interested in diversion programs for non-violent
offenders. Both want to bring change to the office, and both support
legalizing marijuana for medicinal use.

However, Janet Lyness and Nick Maybanks differ when it comes to why
they think voters should choose them in the June 6 primary election.
The two squared off at a candidate forum Wednesday at the Iowa City
Public Library.

Lyness, who has worked as an assistant Johnson County attorney for 16
years, touts her experience and "commitment to the community."

"That commitment is something I would bring to the office of county
attorney," Lyness said. "I do see things that we can do better, and
I'm excited because I can make those changes."

Maybanks, of Coralville, said that although he is young, he is
experienced. Maybanks, 30, has worked as a Linn County prosecutor for
six years and said real change comes from those who work "in the trenches."

"Yes, I'm young," Maybanks said. "But I'm the best person to bring
overdue changes to the system."

Several questions at the forum focused on marijuana and alcohol
prosecution. Both candidates said they would consider a
cite-and-release policy for those caught with a small amount of marijuana.

"It's something worth looking at," Lyness said. "If it's something
we're going to do in Iowa, we need to look at what's going on
nationally as well."

On alcohol, Maybanks said instead of simply fining an underage person
for alcohol possession, the charge should be cleared from the record
if he or she stays out of trouble for six months and performs
community service.

Alcohol education programs for University of Iowa students also
should be highlighted, Maybanks said.

"What we need to do is educate people in this community," he said.
"We need to educate them from the get go when they get here."

On the law forbidding some sex offenders from living within 2,000
feet of a school or daycare center, Lyness said she would work to
repeal that law to focus more on classification of sex offenders.

"I don't think it's a good law," Lyness said. "I think it's
counterproductive. ... I think it does nothing other than hurt people."

Maybanks said each sex offender case should be analyzed because each
one is different.

"We have to pay individual attention to each of those cases," he said.

Whoever wins the June 6 primary would be the Democratic candidate for
county attorney in the Nov. 7 general election.

The next county attorney will replace J. Patrick White, who has held
the post for 23 years. White's term ends in December.