DA CANDIDATES LOOK FORWARD TO THE DEBATES

Terence Hallinan has never been one to run away from a
fight.

So it's no surprise that the incumbent district attorney is looking
forward to the first debate of the season, a high-noon showdown Friday
presented by Golden Gate University School of Law.

After reading a barrage of criticisms from his four challengers and
hearing their attacks secondhand, the televised forum will be
Hallinan's first chance to face his accusers.

"If I can get my message out, people are going to vote for me," said
Hallinan, who has been through 10 other elections in San Francisco.
"That's all there is to it."

The other candidates have messages, too, and they seem to follow a
similar theme: "How I'm going to clean up the mess Hallinan made."

Matt Gonzalez claims Hallinan broke the pledge he made to the
progressive left when he was elected in 1995, and Gonzalez said he can
take over the office and fulfill those promises.

Bill Fazio has said Hallinan has become too much of an advocate for
criminals, and Fazio wants to shift the focus to getting tough on
lawbreakers.

Steve Castleman has said Hallinan has acted with gross incompetence,
and Castleman wants to bring integrity back to the office.

Hallinan said he appreciates the opportunity to defend his
record.

"I don't even know what their concerns are," Hallinan said. "They seem
to be out to personally bash me."

To add to the pounding, Hallinan said it has been his toughest
campaign in terms of negative publicity, claiming both daily
newspapers in The City are "out to get me."

Public Defender Jeff Brown, who switched his endorsement from Hallinan
to Gonzalez last week, said he admires Hallinan for his ability to
take political punishment in stride.

"He's a guy who takes a punch," Brown said. "You can slug him with an
article and he comes right back at you."

There will be at least two more debates, including forums presented by
Hastings School of Law and the League of Women Voters.

Peter Keane, dean of Golden Gate University School of Law, said he
expects a lively debate with Hallinan's record at the focus.

"It's going to be four-on-one because I don't think they have any
interest in attacking each other," Keane said. "It's the incumbent's
record that gives you the most fertile field of criticism."

Fazio said he plans to focus on his own positives, not Hallinan's
negatives, and expects a civilized forum unlike the ones that the
mayoral candidates have attended.

"I expect there will be professionalism by all parties," Fazio said.
"This is a different kind of race."

Keane said the debate is especially important for Gonzalez, Schaefer
and Castleman, who have little name recognition in The City with less
than a month to go before the election.

"They can only gain by participating in these debates," Keane said.
"It'll give people looking for an alternative to Hallinan and Fazio a
chance to see who else is out there."

Gonzalez agreed.

"I think it's really important. If the polls are accurate and 50
percent of the people are undecided, this will be a good opportunity
for the voters."

Castleman said he will use the debate to show that he is both
progressive and professional, and that Hallinan has been neither.

"I think he has a hard day any time he has to go out and talk about
his record," Castleman said.

With cross fire from other candidates and the media, it's easy to miss
the fact that Hallinan is still the front-runner in the race.

Polls that appeared in The Examiner, the San Francisco Chronicle and
the Recorder all have Hallinan in the lead, with Bill Fazio a close
second.

The incumbent would need 50 percent of the vote to avoid a runoff. "I
don't think about polls," Hallinan said. "There's only one poll that
counts, and that's in November."