Carl Brizzi for Prosecutor

The candidates for Marion County prosecutor took on each other's records and experience Sunday in their first formal debate.

Carl Brizzi, the Republican incumbent, painted Melina Kennedy, his Democratic challenger, as a candidate lacking adequate prosecutorial or courtroom experience for the job.

Brizzi, Kennedy said, has overseen lower conviction rates in several areas, including domestic violence. She is ready to fill a leadership vacuum, she said.
In just over four weeks, voters will decide between the two in the area's highest-profile race. Sunday night's 30-minute debate on WISH (Channel 8) was the first of four scheduled.

On the experience question, Kennedy cited her background in civil litigation, as a clerk for the Indiana Supreme Court and as deputy mayor. But Brizzi said she would create an experience void at the top of the prosecutor's office.

"Every day, young prosecutors in my office come up to the sixth floor to ask for my advice," said Brizzi, who was a deputy prosecutor under his predecessor, Republican Scott Newman. "Being on the front lines and trying these cases makes all the difference in the world."

Kennedy cited Stephen Goldsmith, Indianapolis' former mayor. He earlier became prosecutor without having worked in the office. Leadership is more important in a large county prosecutor's office, she said.

"I agree (Brizzi has) very good experience," Kennedy said. "But I think when something's just not working, having someone coming in with a fresh perspective is the way to go."

The candidates agreed on several issues: Overcrowding in the Marion County Jail has stopped, but more efforts are needed. The death penalty should be used only for "the worst of the worst." Marijuana should stay illegal.

And the office should serve as a watchdog over state government, no matter the politics.

But Brizzi and Kennedy diverged in a few areas:

Each other's record. Brizzi said Kennedy's charge that conviction rates were declining was misleading. He cited success rates above 90 percent for murder and meth trials.

Brizzi said unemployment grew and more people went on welfare while Kennedy oversaw economic development for the city. Kennedy said she took on that role as the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks hit. Since that time, the strength of the city's economy has been praised by experts.

Negative advertising. Each said their TV ads had been truthful but found portrayals by the other campaign unfair.

Kennedy smarted over a Brizzi ad with an actress playing a bumbling version of her in the courtroom. Brizzi cited Kennedy ads that "politicize some very tragic cases."

Community-based prosecution. Brizzi has cross-trained community prosecutors to fight gangs. But Kennedy wants far more of the 168 deputy prosecutors tied to neighborhoods, instead of a handful.

Moderator Jim Shella, a WISH political reporter, let the candidates ask each other one question.

Kennedy raised the case of Terrance "Mob" Anderson, who killed at least one person last year after he was released from jail with unrelated charges pending. Brizzi had cited jail overcrowding, but more recently he said Anderson was released because prosecutors were waiting on more evidence.

"I guess I want to know, which is it?" Kennedy said. Brizzi said ethics rules kept him from discussing specific cases.

Brizzi asked Kennedy about the wisdom of part of a five-point plan to persuade members to leave gangs. Some would receive amnesty if they renounce the gang and give up guns.

"That's not a be-all, end-all," Kennedy said. "But I think it's worth exploring, absolutely."

Call Star reporter Jon Murray at (317) 444-2752.

Copyright 2006 IndyStar.com. All rights reserved