Published: January 15, 2008 10:08 pm      

Candidates spar at BPW forum

By JEREMY HALL

jeremy.hall@register-news.com

MT. VERNON - Discussion by candidates for state's attorney and appellate judge was heated Tuesday night in a forum being held by the Mt. Vernon Business and Professional Women at the Rolland Lewis Community Building.

Kent Renshaw, candidate for Jefferson County State's Attorney, attacked the high number of plea agreements by the office of current state's attorney Gary Duncan and claimed that his opponent in the Feb. 5 democratic primary, assistant state's attorney Jeff Bradley, does not reside in the county.

Bradley referred to Renshaw as a "professional political candidate" who would be an "on-the-job trainee" if elected to the office.

Renshaw was first to take the podium at the request of moderator Russ Withers, and immediately pointed to statistics that show a high number of plea agreements in felony charges within the county.

"There is no bargain for the victim when it comes to a plea agreement," he said. "I think there is very little concern given to the victims these days. The time for aggressive prosecution is here."

Renshaw stated that in one year, 765 felony charges had been filed in Jefferson County. Of those 286 resulted in convictions, all but two by plea agreement.

Bradley responded that plea agreements often are the suggestion of victims themselves.

"These cases are resolved more often than not with the victim coming in and saying, 'I don't want to testify,'" said Bradley. "'I know this guy's guilty. He agrees he's guilty. Let's all agree on what's fair in this case.'

"[Renshaw] wants to stand up here and scare you with these types of things, but he does not know what he's talking about."

Bradley said while campaigning he has heard from prospective voters that Renshaw has been telling them he does not reside in Jefferson County. He explained that he purchased a trailer near Lake of Egypt and spends leisure time there while residing in Mt. Vernon with his wife.

He further stated that Renshaw himself had visited with him in the front yard of his Mt. Vernon home to place campaign signs when he ran for city council last year.

Bradley then reached into his pocket and pulled out an invitation for coffee with Renshaw as well as a Christmas card from Renshaw, both received in Mt. Vernon.

"That's what we... call evidence, folks," he said.

Renshaw responded by holding up a piece of paper he said was a warranty deed for a $75,000 home purchased by Bradley near Lake of Egypt in 2003.

"I wasn't going to get nasty," he said. "But I can. ... He lived here from seventh through 12th grade, moved away and never came back."

Bradley had previously noted that Renshaw in 1996 ran for state's attorney in Hardin County.

"But he wants to be your hometown boy right now," he said.

Renshaw said he worked in Hardin County at the request of Judge Terrance Hopkins when help was needed in that area. He had also stated that he decided to seek the office of state's attorney after once serving as a defense attorney and becoming "sick" with what he saw on that side of the bench.

The discussion was so heated that state representative candidate Travis Loyd quipped about it as he and Patti Hahn followed the two.

"Wow," said Loyd. "Somebody get the fire extinguisher out. The smoke detectors back there are going off."

In the portion of the forum dedicated to democratic candidates for Fifth Judicial District Appellate Judge, appointed judge James M. Wexstten and challenger Judy Cates sparred over campaign spending.

Cates asked Wexstten to explain "$50,000 from an out-of-state corporation with a Chicago CEO," while Wexstten claimed Cates "has given hundreds of thousands of dollars to judicial races in the Metro East. And now, all of a sudden, it's bad."