Spring Break
Penn, Drexel groups host DA candidates
Loren McFalls and Chelsea Plushanki
Issue date: 2/20/09 Section: News
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Candidates Michael Turner, Dan McElhatton, Brian Grady, and Seth Williams participated in the forum.
Williams called the Philadelphia criminal system broken, and proposed community-based prosecution as the solution, adding that as DA, he would arrange the office geographically.
Turner said he had a plan for dealing with the impending budget cuts caused by the current financial crisis and addressed the issue of the community change unit.
"[District attorneys] have to have discretion," Turner said.
McElhatton said the new district attorney must have leadership, integrity, judgment, and experience. He cited his highest priorities as reducing gun violence and witness intimidation, as well as proper training of his assistant district attorneys.
Grady was the only candidate to mention the Friday night police shooting. According to Grady, the DA's office needs to be more proactive and reactionary.
"The DA's office needs to shoulder responsibility and empty prisons of people who don't belong there in order to re-fill them with people who do," Grady said.
Grady specifically referred to the Little Rascals and the Bloods, two drug-dealing gangs that need to be imprisoned for as long as possible, he said.
According to Giancarlo Stefanoni, president of Drexel Democrats, the district attorney election is very important to Philadelphia and the Drexel Democrats, as district attorneys often go on to higher positions, including those of mayor or governor.
"The Drexel Democrats will meet to discuss the candidates and who we support and why. We hope to be able to come to a conclusion and formally endorse a candidate," Stefanoni said.
This forum was in preparation for the Democratic primaries May 19. The winner of the Democratic primary will face the Republican candidate and any other candidates in November 2009.
This is the first time in many years that there hasn't been an incumbent DA on the ballot and the first time we will have a new DA since Lynne Abraham was elected 18 years ago.
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