Hall wins East Cleveland straw poll for Cuyahoga County Prosecutor

EAST CLEVELAND, Ohio - A decent size crowd filed into the Greg L. Reese Performing Arts Center at the East Cleveland library Saturday afternoon. A little more than 60 people came to hear the five candidates running to be the next Cuyahoga County prosecutor replacing the outgoing Bill Mason. Mason announced in October of 2010 that he would not be seeking re-election. He’s held the office since 1999.

The debate and straw poll started just after 1:30 and each candidate started off with a five minute introduction. First up was former Court of Common Pleas Judge Timothy J. McGinty. He told the crowd the, “criminal justice system is broken." McGinty says he wants a transparent accountable system and a single booking location. He went on to say he wants to focus on habitual offenders, create a public corruption unit, focus on foreclosures and crime.

The second to speak was Subodh Chandra, former law director and chief prosecutor for the City of Cleveland. “We need someone who doesn’t bury their head in the sand." Chandra took a few shots at the current prosecutor Mason. “We deserve a prosecutor who seeks justice not just convictions,” Chandra said. One of the audience members expressed concerns that the prosecutors office overcharges defendants with crimes. Chandra as well as several others expressed to the crowd they would not do that.

“If you can’t prove a case you don’t go forward,” said former assistant Cuyahoga County prosecutor James McDonnell.  He reiterated his campaign slogan, “your safety comes first” to the audience. He also expressed several changes he would like to make including reforming the grand jury system. McDonnell says he will “screen cases” to make sure his office has a rock solid case. He told the audience he’s tried over 400 cases and “expungements are to narrow.”

Stephanie Hall, former Cleveland police officer and foreclosure magistrate court of common pleas judge, talked to the audience about walking the streets as a police officer. She spent 13 years on the force. As a magistrate, she told the crowd she dealt with over 800 cases. Hall says she would establish a complaint review board so citizens could express their grievances with the prosecutor’s office.

“This is our moment at this time for this office,” Robert Triozzi said when he took the microphone. Triozzi is the former Cleveland Law director appointed by Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson. Triozzi resigned in September to run for the prosecutor’s office. “We need someone that will be held to the values of integrity, I am that person,” Triozzi said. “You need to have a vision to get things done,” he continued.

The first question in the audience came from a Cleveland Plain Dealer reporter. “How many have tried felony cases and how many people have been cited for prosecution misconduct and if so, how often,” the reporter asked? Every one of the candidates were quick to say they had not been cited. Chandra during his answer told the audience that McGinty had been cited for misconduct. McGinty responded by first telling of felony cases he handled. Then proceeded to tell the audience that he had one case reversed for misconduct but did have “several incidents.”

The day ended with a straw poll won by Stephanie Hall. There is no republican running against these candidates so the winner of the March sixth primary will be the next Cuyahoga County prosecutor. Stay with Newschannel 5 for continuing coverage of election 2012.