SALISBURY -- Wicomico County voters can judge for themselves the three candidates for state's attorney during a special forum Wednesday night.
Davis Ruark, the Democratic incumbent, has enjoyed a smooth re-election path since taking office in 1987.
That's not the case this year. Challenging Ruark are Democratic attorney W. Seth Mitchell and Republican attorney Matthew Maciarello.
The three will answer questions about their legal background, approach to fighting crime and relationship with law enforcement during a candidates forum Wednesday at the MAC Inc. Senior Services Facility off Snow Hill Road.
The Wicomico Neighborhood Congress, which is hosting the event, has put together a panel to question the candidates. The moderator will be Fran Kane, a co-founder of Salisbury University's Institute for Public Affairs and Civic Engagement.
Mike Pretl, the vice chairman of WNC, said he expects there to be vigorous discussion about staffing within the State's Attorney's Office, the crime rates in Salisbury and the use of plea bargaining as a prosecution tactic.
"I'm looking forward to the open exchange of information," Ruark said.
So are his two opponents, each of whom say they are the best choice for state's attorney.
Mitchell, who will square off against Ruark in the Democratic primary Sept. 14, is a Salisbury defense attorney and former assistant state's attorney. He said his approach is to seek justice and demand responsibility.
"I will discuss the ways the other candidates and I differ on the philosophical approach of how the State's Attorney's Office should be run," Mitchell said.
Maciarello, who is guaranteed to be on the ballot on Election Day, said he will address a topic that has dominated newspaper headlines during the past several years.
"I'm looking forward to explaining to voters how a more proactive approach will be beneficial to fighting crime in Wicomico County," Maciarello said.
Serving on the forum's panel are Joe Albero, a blogger from Delmar; Sharahn Boykin, a staff writer at The Daily Times; Haven Simmons, a communications professor at SU; and George Strott, a Salisbury attorney.
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3 comments:
How many years was Davis Chips boss? Isnt there a conflict there.
Seth has claimed in a public meeting that Chip is one of the best Assistant State's Attorneys there ever was and further inferred that Chip encouraged Seth to run. There's no conflict that I can see.
Chip sure saved my backside.
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