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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