Lee, Dano highlight differences in debate

MOSES LAKE - Moses Lake attorney Garth Dano and Grant County Prosecutor Angus Lee highlighted their differences and rising areas of Grant County crime during the Vision 2020 debate Tuesday.

"It's no secret that Mr. Lee doesn't care for me personally and that has translated out to deputy prosecutors and how they treat me and how they treat other lawyers. The role of the prosecutor is to rise above petty differences," Dano said in response to an audience question about frustrations with the prosecutor's office.

Dano said it was "insane" that deputy prosecutors only talk to defense attorneys via e-mail or in court and if elected, he would encourage more private, respectful conversations between defense and prosecution attorneys to get speedy resolutions to criminal cases.

Lee said if defense attorneys do not like him or his office it is because he is putting their clients in jail and touted the office's 90 percent conviction rate while he served as lead prosecutor. He mentioned recent measures to reduce gang-related crimes that he called the biggest problem in the county.

Lee said law enforcement must continue to be vigilant against drug-related crimes and said heroin use, not methamphetamine or prescription drugs abuse, causes the most property crimes in the county. He said criminals who are addicted to drugs and do not have violent convictions should, in most cases, get drug treatment immediately. He said he was in favor of having a drug court to prosecute drug possession cases in Grant County but that funding was not yet available.

Dano agreed drug-related thefts are problems and said he would bring back a drug court to prosecute drug possession offenses and possibly have a night court.

"Nobody said when you become a public servant that you had the right to work 9 to 5. I'd like to see the clerk's office divided up so maybe we can have drug court in the evening to take some of the burden off during the day," he said.

When asked by an audience member, Dano said he has served as lead attorney for about 70 cases in Grant County Superior Court. Lee said he has served as lead attorney for at least one case in each of his eight years, including two murder convictions.

Lee became choked up, briefly had difficulty speaking and his eyes became red when asked about the emotionally hardest case he tried as an attorney. He said he prosecuted a man for breaking into a woman's house and raping her and the man was convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison. He said he spent his career prosecuting criminals and that is where his passion lies.

Dano said he has practiced law in Grant County for more than 30 years and wants to bring dignity to the prosecutor's office.