Incumbent 22nd Judicial District Attorney Russell Wasley, who hopes to fend off challenger Will Furse in this years primary, had the following responses to community-based questions about the position.
What do you consider the most serious criminal issues in Montezuma County and how would you address them?
Wasley said he believes the most serious issues are violent offenders, repeat offenders and the methamphetamine problem.
Wasley said there is drug court for the people who are addicts.
In regards to meth dealers, we are in favor of strict prosecution because methamphetamine spawns assaults, burglaries and a lot else, he said.
He said in the first half of 2011, there were 10 cases involving meth. There were 12 cases in the first halves of 2009 and 2010.
He said law enforcement officers now have more resources to spot meth usage.
Wasley pointed to the recent Zachary Sullivan trial, which Wasley prosecuted and was able to get a conviction against Sullivan for two counts of attempted murder, two counts of menacing and two counts of first-degree assault against law enforcement.
I want to tell the voters that I was the one who personally prosecuted that case, Wasley said. The jury indicates they were happy with the work we did.
On repeat offenders, Wasley pointed to Edwin Fulbright who was given a 30-year prison sentence for five felonies after Wasley determine the first plea bargain was too lenient because Fulbright had nine prior felony convictions.
He said the district attorneys office under his watch has made a greater effort to charge and prosecute repeat offenders.
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What are the most important qualifications for being DA in the 22nd Judicial District?
There is no substitute for experience, Wasley said. Experience counts. I have tried over 70 jury trials as a prosecutor. I have tried six murder trials, five as lead counsel and one as co-counsel.
Wasley also said the public needs a district attorney who has experience in trying a case where DNA is part of the evidence.
This is not just a simple thing for a young prosecutor to just learn on the job, he said. This is not the type of job where you should get on-the-job training. This is not a job for someone who is a newbie.
The role of the district attorney is to protect the community, Wasley said. This belief needs to be in a persons head and heart in order to succeed as a DA.
I know when I get up in the morning I know my job is to seek justice and to make sure I do the right thing, Wasley said, adding he knows he is on the right side as the DA.
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What is your position on plea bargains and restorative justice?
Wasley said his belief is that there needs to be more strict plea bargains. While he thinks no one likes plea bargains, they are absolutely necessary.
In 2011, 240 felony cases were filed. If each one were to go trial and each trial lasted a week, there would be no way to handle that case load, Wasley said.
There is simply not enough judges, prosecutors or courtrooms, he said. I wish we could try every case, but no one can promise to eliminate plea bargains.
People who claim they can try every case are telling a fantasy tale, Wasley said.
Restorative justice can work for less serious crimes where face to face meetings occur after the crime, Wasley said, but he added the No. 1 priority will always be to prosecute violent offenders and repeat offenders, and often those types of offenders are not suitable for plea bargains.
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How do you plan to interact with the community both in terms of crime prevention efforts and community outreach?
Wasley said it isimportant for the district attorney to interact with the community. He said he interacted with the community before becoming the DA and continues to interact now that he is the district attorney.
Wasley said he has met thousands of residents and has met them in kitchens, living rooms and on their doorsteps.
He said he always asks if they have questions or issues about the district attorneys office, which he will try to answer immediately and if more information is need he will find the answer and get to back to the person who asked the question.
He said nothing can replace face-to-face contact with the public, and voters want to see the district attorney.
He also said he wants to see each juveniles continue and finish their education because this is a significant way to turn a troubled youth into a productive citizen of society.
Wasley added that it is not the DAs job to cure crime, and instead is to enforce the law and protect the public from violent and repeat offenders.
I cant make crime go away. This has to be a campaign about realistic promises, realistic things that the district attorney can do, he said.
Reach Michael Maresh at michaelm@cortezjournal.com.