Incumbent Prosecuting Attorney Michael Haas emphasized his accomplishments in his four years in office while his opponent James Kennedy underscored what could be improved if he were elected, during a forum on July 10 about the current condition and the future of the office.

The forum was hosted by the League of Women Voters and the Jefferson County branch of the American Association of University Women at the Jefferson County Community Center, welcoming questions from the audience. 

After Kennedy, of Port Ludlow, brought attention to his military service, which he said gave him the management and leadership skills, the two candidates were asked about their experience of managing attorneys. 

Haas, of Port Townsend, said he supervised attorneys in three different offices, including the Jefferson County Prosecuting Office, Seattle defense firm, and as a senior public defender in Okanogan County, adding throughout his career he mentored 15 attorneys. 

After asking three veterans in his office if there were any correlation between military service and a civilian law office, they answered there was not any.

Kennedy disagreed with Haas, saying the essentials of leadership, management and administration are universal. 

“Getting all those people together in one area, working together as a team under adverse circumstances is something I'll take with me for the rest of my life,” he said about his time in the military, calling it a collaborative effort and not “top down” like it was proposed it was by his opponent.

Another question concerned managing budget and half employees leaving for other jobs during Haas' tenure. “Turnover happens … but when it's everybody all at once and it's a continued revolving door, it's really a bad thing,” Kennedy said. 

Concerning the budget, Kennedy added it must be collaborative between all the departments.

Haas defended himself, saying the four attorneys he started with came within a short amount of time, supposing it had to do with how cases should be prosecuted. 

“I was elected by 60 percent of the vote to take the office in a progressive direction with greater emphasis with therapeutic courts,” he said. 

Others were brought in with higher amount of experience in the legal system.

In answering another question about experience, Kennedy said he has not had experience as a prosecuting attorney but has worked in prosecution for seven years, adding he has relationships with defense attorneys on a day to day basis. Haas answered by stating his 15 years in prosecution and 11 as defense counsel, he also has time in civil law.

Other inquiries toward the candidates were about implicit bias, if the criminal justice system is broken and, the cost of plea deals in trial.