Carl Brizzi for Prosecutor

The race for Marion County prosecutor is heating up. Republican incumbent Carl Brizzi and Democrat opponent Melina Kennedy went head to head Sunday night in a debate on the issues.

You've all seen the ads.

"Melina Kennedy has been talking about some of my cases lately trying to attack my record as prosecutor. Well here's one case she doesn't talk about, the one she prosecuted. That's because there isn't one," one Brizzi for prosecutor ad says.

"Carl Brizzi is attacking Melina Kennedy, he says her experience is an issue maybe that's because that's because he's trying to hide from his experience as prosecutor," a Kennedy for prosecutor ad says.

He says she doesn't have the experience necessary to be prosecutor. She says his record proves he doesn't have what it takes to fight crime.

The first of four debates between incumbent Carl Brizzi and opponent Melina Kennedy took place Sunday evening at the WISH-TV studios.

"Reviewing cases as a clerk for the Supreme Court is not the same as prosecuting cases, just as watching war movies does not qualify someone to be a general," Brizzi said during the debate.

"First of all you've tried two cases in four years so I think you're misrepresenting what the nature of the leadership job is," Kennedy answered back during the debate.

The mood of debate reflected the tone of the campaign.

"I don't believe negative campaigning is the way we should be telling our story and frankly my campaigns stick to facts, I talk about my opponents record because that's relevant here," Kennedy said.

"The ad that you've seen from my campaign highlights the fact that my opponent has never worked in the prosecutor's office, never tried a case, never put a criminal in jail," Brizzi said.

The candidates were asked questions by moderator and WISH-TV political reporter Jim Shella.

Jim asked both candidates to give one word or phrase that describes themselves. Carl Brizzi choose "passionate" while Melina Kennedy said she had to admit her word was "relentless."

They were also given a chance to ask each a question. But did they get the answers they were looking for?

"No, not really," Brizzi said.

"Unfortunately he just didn't answer my question," Kennedy said.

The two will have a chance to get answers to their questions as they will square off in debates three more times before the November election.