ENGLEWOOD — District Attorney Carol Chambers said Wednesday that she should be re-elected because of her tough stance on crime.
Her challenger, fellow Republican George Brauchler, criticized Chambers for what he says is high turnover in her office and a poor relationship with local law enforcement.
Both candidates spoke at a town-hall meeting at an Englewood restaurant. The event was sponsored by the Douglas-Elbert Bar Association. The two are seeking the GOP spot on the ballot in November for DA in the 18th Judicial District.
Most in the crowd were either defense attorneys or employees of Chambers’, and the question-and-answer session quickly turned into a mini-debate.
Brauchler took several shots at Chambers, mentioning a public censure she received from the state in 2006. He also said more than half of the prosecutors in her office have left since she was elected almost four years ago.
“When I’m in charge . . . we’re not going to have that kind of loss,” Brauchler said.
Chambers said the turnover was due to her desire to put the best people in those positions, while other skilled people have left for higher-paying jobs in the private sector.
“I don’t think that’s a bad thing,” Chambers said of the turnover.
Brauchler did some explaining of his own. One woman in the crowd questioned his ethics after Brauchler failed to show up in El Paso County for a court appearance on a speeding ticket and the ticket was dismissed.
He said the ticket was dismissed after the state trooper who wrote it also failed to appear, and that he did nothing wrong.
After the meeting, Chambers questioned Brauchler’s lack of leadership, saying “he’s never managed a single person in his life.”
Brauchler, now a lawyer in private practice, was an assistant district attorney in Jefferson County.
Chambers is considered the front -runner because she is well established in the heavily Republican district, which includes Arapahoe, Doug las, Elbert and Lincoln counties.
But Brauchler didn’t back down, and pounced on several issues Chambers has faced while in office, including her relationship with local police. He touted the fact that he has received endorsements from seven law enforcement unions.
Chambers answered that she is not seeking endorsements because it could be perceived as a conflict of interest in future cases.
Kevin Farrell, the lone Democrat running for district attorney, was invited but did not show up.
Carlos Illescas: 303-954-1175 or cillescas@denverpost.com
