Candidates for district attorney make their case

By Joe Schoenmann

Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012 | 7:14 p.m.

County commissioners asked pointed questions of three candidates for district attorney, learning that the three finalists — Drew Christensen, John Hunt and Steve Wolfson — would, in one regard, operate very differently than former District Attorney David Roger, who quit late last year with three years left on his term.

Unlike Roger, they each said they would independently review and investigate police use of deadly force. Roger admitted last year that he did not review police deadly force incidents without a sheriff’s request.

During 4 1/2 hours of questioning, the three candidates also promised to look at reducing the large number of death penalty cases sought by the District Attorney’s office. While maintaining their traditional adversarial position versus the Public Defender’s office, they also said they would not needlessly pile on charges against defendants in order to gain plea-bargaining leverage.

Other questions focused on diversity in the DA’s office, the coroner’s inquest — all three said families should have representation during an inquest — and more about death penalty cases. Each also invoked the name of Phil Kohn, head of the defender’s office, as someone whose integrity they would try to emulate.

They also said they would like to see the DA involved again in the drug and mental health courts as well as other diversionary programs.

Several members of the public spoke, mostly on behalf of Hunt, former head of the Clark County Democratic Party.

Commissioner Chris Giunchigliani said Roger “did not have a collegial manner in dealing with people,” and each candidate said they could do better.

The three candidates were chosen from seven by a committee overseen by Clark County Manager Don Burnette.

Commissioners may speak with the candidates again before making a final decision during a special meeting Jan. 24 at 1:30 p.m.

Here is a sampling of the three candidates’ statements to commissioners on an assortment of issues:

Christensen, Clark County director of appointed counsel and the only Republican seeking the appointment:

“I’m the only candidate already working inside the system. I’m acutely aware of the conflicts of not just the coroner’s inquest but the death penalty.”

On bad communication between the DA and other offices: He said he could fix “overnight” the “fractured relationships” because he already works within the system and has those good relationships.

On diversity in the office: “It’s not always diversity of race and culture and background; it’s ideas and a way of processing.”

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Hunt, former head of the Clark County Democratic Party:

On officer-involved shootings: “I want every criminal to know I’m going to be their worst nightmare. … Our police officers should never be second-guessed but be held criminally accountable when common sense says there can be no other course of action.”

On the death penalty: “It’s overused,” with the District Attorney’s office currently handling 86 capital cases.

On diversity: “I testified in the Legislature on gay rights, marriage rights, and to me it’s the big picture. It’s a mindset. It starts at the top. Who can best manage the office to have the best result to have the best people in place? I am the best person at this table to recruit people based on diversity.”

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Wolfson, Las Vegas City Council member and private attorney:

On children being tried as adults: “Too many (juveniles) are being certified to adult status. … I’m the only elected official with experience dealing with collective bargaining.”

On diversifying the office: When the city was looking to appoint a replacement for Municipal Court Judge Toy Gregory, who died, Wolfson said the top contenders were all white men, one of them who was his friend. “I did not want to give him the job. I wanted to have someone who represented the community. I reached out to a minority woman.” Cynthia Leung, prosecutor for the Las Vegas City Attorney’s office, was appointed.

On speeding cases through the system: He wants to investigate the addition of a night court.

Family Court problems and lack of diversity: “What confidence do people have when so many of the litigants always see white prosecutors? We need to bring a cultural diversity change, a reflection of who we are, and if there are more folks who are socially, economically deprived, then perhaps we need to put people who are more sensitive to that down in those positions.”