3 DEBATE CRIME, DRUGS

DANE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY

Republican Diane Nicks says she's the most experienced at prosecuting cases
and managing an office. Democrat Deirdre Garton says she has the best
long-term vision to fight crime.

And Libertarian Peter Steinberg says we'd all be better off if Dane County
would quit prosecuting marijuana offenses.

It's clear the candidates for Dane County district attorney have carved out
three distinct ideological niches for voters to choose from. On Tuesday,
they continued to differentiate themselves in front of 50 people at a Dane
County Bar Assoclation lunchtime debate.

Incumbent Nicks told the group she has worked to trim a large backlog of
cases left by her predecessor, improved office communications technology,
and received support from most of the county's 29 prosecutors in her
11-month tenure after being appointed by Gov. Tommy Thompson.

Nicks also defended policies that are tough on crime, such as the
life-without-parole sentence given in April to convicted murderer Brandon
Grady.

"Some of the legislation is tough, but some of it makes us safer in our own
homes," Nicks said.

All three candidates gave detailed descriptions of their experience. Garton
pointed to her 16 years of experience as an attorney, including seven years
a deputy district attorney working adult and juvenile cases under former
District Attorney Bill Foust. Although she's never worked a murder trial
she said some were "cakewalks", and that misdemeanors she prosecuted --
such as drunk-driving -- often could be much more complicated.

On the management side, Garton has worked since 1996 as a consultant for
the state Department of Administration to develop a computerized case
management system for prosecutors.

Nicks countered Garton's work with her own wide-ranging work as an elected
district attorney in Columbia County in 1977, 16 years as an attorney in
the state Department of Justice, and experience of prosecuting at least six
murder trials.

Steinberg was less specific and more blunt, saying his 20 years of
experience as a trial lawyer on a variety of cases -- including appearances
before the U.S. and state supreme courts -- make him the most qualified.

"I've seen the mistakes prosecutors make from the other side, and as the
district attorney, I would be on guard for that," Steinberg said.

The biggest mistake the District Attorney's Office makes involves it's case
backlog, Garton said, and though she acknowledged progress Nicks has made,
Garton said juvenile crime would be a primary focus under her leadership,
because of a demographic rise in the number of teenagers over the next
decade.

"We must focus on kids and be sure they're on a fast track to
consequences," Garton said. "We're not talking about weeks, not months, but
days."

Steinberg agreed with the importance of fighting juvenile crime, and
stressed his view that violent crime would decrease if drugs were
legalized.

"As long as the 'War on Drugs' lasts, its program will be more police,
prisons, and prosecutions," Steinberg said. "There will be more violence
and more deaths unless people have the courage to end a failed policy."

Checked-by: Joel W. Johnson