Candidate Q&A: Door County District Attorney

Challenger Colleen Nordin will face incumbent District Attorney Ray Pelrine in the Aug. 9 Republican primary. Nordin is a Sturgeon Bay native with a law firm in Green Bay, M.C.Law Group. Pelrine has served as district attorney since 2004.

Colleen Nordin

Describe the qualifications and experience that make you the best candidate for the district attorney’s office.

Since graduating from Marquette Law School in 2008, I have focused my practice on criminal defense and family law. I am not a career prosecutor, and I am very proud of my work as a criminal defense attorney. I have successfully challenged even the most seasoned of prosecutors. As a defense attorney, it is my job to carefully scrutinize the strengths and weaknesses of every case. I will use that skill to work closely with law enforcement to prepare the strongest case possible.

I have worked with judges, prosecutors, and law enforcement officials in courts across Northeast Wisconsin. I have had the opportunity to observe a variety of prosecutorial policies and strategies, some of which are highly effective, and some of which are not.

The District Attorney has wide discretion over whom to prosecute and to what extent. I think that both my professional and personal background make me uniquely qualified to bring a balanced and thoughtful approach when it comes to making the difficult decisions a prosecutor often faces.

The person you elect as your next District Attorney should have a deep range of experience and perspective to ensure that victims will always receive justice and defendants will be treated impartially.

I am that candidate, and I will be that District Attorney.

Explain what you believe are the most significant issues in this race, why you are running for this position and what differentiates you from the other candidate.

One of the most significant issues in this election is the appropriate use of prosecutorial discretion. I understand how the District Attorney can impact a community and impact an individual’s life and the life of their family in a very significant way.

As I speak with the members of this community, a common concern being brought to my attention is the failure to properly prosecute certain high-level and very serious crimes, particularly those involving the victimization of children, including sexual assault and possession of child pornography.

Just as I have always done as a defense attorney, as District Attorney, I will not shy away from the difficult cases. I will work closely with law enforcement to ensure that we are bringing justice to the victims of crime by holding those who victimize the members of this community accountable for their actions.

What interests you about being a prosecutor?

Quite frankly, my interest is not in being just ANY prosecutor, my interest is in being Door County’s prosecutor. The lives of the people who live in and visit this community truly matter to me.

Running for elected office is not something I ever anticipated, but it has become increasingly apparent to me that this community is in need of a true leader who can rebuild bridges and bring people together.

Identify the biggest challenge the district attorney’s office faces and describe how you plan to address it.

A strong relationship between law enforcement and the District Attorney is essential.

One of the most important duties of District Attorney is to provide law enforcement the support necessary to effectively and safely do their jobs.

Over the years, I have had the fortune to build great relationships with law enforcement. I have a profound respect for the work they do. Our police officers and deputies are on the front lines, and they know they can rely on me to follow through with the work they have done.

What trends do you see in criminal activity in Door County that the district attorney’s office should address?

One of the most concerning trends in our community is the trafficking and abuse of drugs. The collateral consequences that result from drug trafficking and abuse affect nearly every aspect of a community.

Similarly to drug abuse, individuals suffering from mental illness are often caught up in the “revolving door” of the criminal justice system. Their treatment needs are often not met, and they continue to struggle in society.

Some defendants who suffer from drug addiction and mental illness should be directed to treatment programs. I will work to modernize Door County’s criminal justice system by focusing on crime prevention, intervention and treatment. I will focus on developing programs that focus on reducing recidivism (reoffending), including diversion programs and treatment courts.

If implemented correctly, such programs can be a better use of our limited resources. We get individuals out of the system so later on we aren’t spending resources prosecuting the same individuals over and over while failing to adequately address the underlying issues.

We are all safer when we can help people return to health and become a productive member of the community. This doesn’t mean that I am going to be soft on crime, but it does mean I will be pragmatic.

What is your policy concerning victimless crimes (such as marijuana possession)? If there isn’t an actual citizen claiming they were wronged by an activity and the “violation” is just a policy violation, is it the best use of taxpayer resources to prosecute those cases?

Drug possession is not a “victimless crime.” The community is absolutely affected by the presence of drugs. At the same time, discretion in how to prosecute offenders is absolutely necessary.

This is why I believe it is important to introduce diversion and treatment programs I mentioned in the previous question. The benefits to such programs are significant.

When it comes to these types of crimes, I will seek justice with strength and compassion.

Since the district attorney’s job is essentially apolitical, is there any good reason for it being a partisan position? Do you think the position should be non-partisan?

Some elected positions, such as legislators are partisan by nature. A district attorney is a prosecutor, not a legislator. The job of a prosecutor is to enforce the law as it is written. When it comes to the administration of justice, there should not be a difference between a Republican prosecutor and a Democrat prosecutor.

While I am not ashamed of my political leanings, I can assure this community that politics will not play a role in the manner in which I perform my duties as Door County District Attorney.

Ray Pelrine

Describe the qualifications and experience that make you the best candidate for the district attorney’s office.

I have been in public service as a prosecutor for over thirty years and Door County’s elected District Attorney since 2004. My experience in this county goes back to 1984, when I served as assistant district attorney for 4½ years. I have handled hundreds of jury trials, prosecuted thousands of cases and made the often difficult decisions of this job on a daily basis, in the public eye, answerable for whatever action I took. Probably the most difficult and important responsibility of a District Attorney is the exercise of the broad discretionary power of the office in order to do justice for all involved. It is my duty to seek justice for the victims, for the community as a whole, and for the accused. That is not a task that can be picked up on the fly, or developed overnight. It takes time, and lots of experience. This responsibility still weighs heavily on me, as it should. I bring this knowledge and experience with me to work every day. In addition, I bring:

• Over a decade of experience as a nationally recognized trainer of trial advocacy skills for prosecutors
• Many years training local police officers on domestic violence, search and seizure and other topics
• Years of participation on DC Coordinated Response Team (to domestic violence and sexual assault)
• Years of participation on DC AOD Coalition
• Wisconsin selectee to attend FBI prosecutor training at Quantico, VA
• Developer of OWI alternative program (IDIP)

Explain what you believe are the most significant issues in this race, why you are running for this position and what differentiates you from the other candidate.

I think the most significant issue in the race is qualification for the office. Who has it? Door County is blessed in that we are spared from much of the violent crime that plagues other communities. That does not mean bad things don’t happen here. We have problems. Meth and heroin are plaguing this community as they have much of the country. Children raised in homes where these drugs are being sold and abused are coming into the child protection system. Drunk drivers continue to travel our highways in too great numbers. And, while overall crime rates are down, we still have sexual assaults, burglaries, thefts, batteries and the whole spectrum of crime. It takes skill and experience to capably handle all of these cases. To review them. Work with law enforcement to develop them. Make proper decisions on charging them. To present them effectively in court. And, perhaps most important, to seek just outcomes on all. These skills are called for on a daily basis.

I have been doing this my whole career. I have been Door County’s District Attorney for the past dozen years. I have the skills to handle virtually every type of case or crime that may come up. I have extensive experience trying cases before Door County judges and Door County juries. I know the people of this community. Public safety is something we all value. It is also something we don’t tend to think about unless it becomes an issue for our community. Keeping it from becoming an issue takes a lot of work. I am doing that work every day, with my partners in law enforcement, in order to keep Door County the great place it is for all of us and our families.

What interests you about being a prosecutor?

The greatest thing about this job is also its greatest challenge – the incredible variety of matters that you have to master. On any given day your knowledge and skills in handling a criminal, traffic or conservation offense may be called upon. Child protection and juvenile delinquency cases are common. Issues of mental health, competency and responsibility frequently arise. A wide variety of civil forfeiture offenses must also be handled. In court you must have deep knowledge of the rules of evidence and procedure, and be able to think quickly and clearly on your feet. In each area there is a wide range of skills called upon daily. Among the criminal cases handled, you must deal with the numerous different offenses as well as issues involving lawful evidence gathering, possible defenses to the crime, sentencing credit, and even criminal appeals. This variety is what keeps me on my toes, and what keeps the work so vital and challenging even after many years doing it.

Identify the biggest challenge the district attorney’s office faces and describe how you plan to address it.

The biggest challenge facing my office is one that is a challenge for the entire criminal justice system. We need to come up with better responses to criminal behavior. Locking up offenders is needed in many cases, but it cannot be the only response to crime. It does not keep criminals from re-offending and it has become a greater and greater burden on taxpaying citizens. We need more and better alternatives.

I have worked to introduce and expand alternatives to traditional sentencing models, such as Deferred Acceptance of Guilty Plea agreements and the Intoxicated Driver Intervention Program (IDIP), in order to both punish offenders appropriately as well as work to keep them from re-offending in the future. Such programs do this by focusing on the common issues that contribute to offenses happening in the first place – such as AODA needs, lost driver’s license or other problems. Sadly, the IDIP program is no longer in existence, but creative alternatives like it are needed to more effectively deal with offenders in the future. Many counties are exploring specialized courts for offenders that present unique issues, such as veterans, drug, and mental health courts. Things like this are needed, as I believe they point the way to possible solutions to what is the biggest challenge facing the criminal justice system.

What trends do you see in criminal activity in Door County that the district attorney’s office should address?

A major crime trend in recent years is the explosion of problems that come with serious drug abuse. The fallout from opiates and methamphetamine are an ever-increasing issue here in Door County. The use and selling of these drugs are on the rise. We now have overdose deaths every year. We are seeing families and individuals devastated by these drugs. Unlike many counties, the Door County District Attorney has responsibility for child protection (CHIPS) cases. That means I see the cases of abuse and neglect of kids due to parents wrapped up in these drugs. As has happened with other community wide problems, this too must be dealt with using a team approach among many agencies. Door County has a long tradition of such team approaches, and I believe we are working to effectively address this trend by sharing of information and working to address the “big picture” in drug cases.

What is your policy concerning victimless crimes (such as marijuana possession)? If there isn’t an actual citizen claiming they were wronged by an activity and the “violation” is just a policy violation, is it the best use of taxpayer resources to prosecute those cases?

Criminal laws are society’s statements on what is acceptable behavior in a community. While a particular offense may or may not have a victim, its status as a crime is not based upon that. It is based upon what our community, through the legislature, has determined to be the limits of acceptable behavior. Having said that, the office of District Attorney carries with it great discretion in what cases get charged and, even when charged, how they are handled. The example you give, simple marijuana possession, is a good one. In recent years there has been a sort of decriminalizing approach developing, at least for some cases. Officers have discretion to choose to arrest for a crime or simply issue a forfeiture citation. I review cases to see the age of the offender, are there any prior offenses, what amount of marijuana did they have, are there signs of other or serious drug issues, and other factors to determine what approach to take in a given case.

Since the district attorney’s job is essentially apolitical, is there any good reason for it being a partisan position? Do you think the position should be non-partisan?

The work of the DA is really nonpartisan. My approach is neither conservative nor liberal. I try to do justice in every case and work to keep Door County a great and safe place to live. From that perspective, there is no real reason to keep the elections partisan. Is it a big deal? The fact is, district attorneys are just like sheriffs, county treasurers, clerks and other county elected offices, governed by the Wisconsin constitution. We run for election in the way set out in Article VI, Section 4. That means we are elected at the same time as other partisan offices, in the fall cycle. To change that would require an amendment of the constitution.

I don’t think it is a big deal since elections for local offices like DA are decided locally, with minimal outside influence or money. For that reason, I am fine with the present system.