Two vie in Lake County attorney race
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
On the June 3 ballot is the election for Lake County District Attorney. Incumbent Mitch Young is running against challenger Steve Eschenbacher.
Eschenbacher, managing attorney for the Office of the Public Defender in Polson, has lived in Lake County for five and a half years and moved here from Hamilton.
Asked about qualities and experience that qualify him for the job of Lake County Attorney, Eschenbacher said, “The biggest quality that I bring is my reputation as an accomplished, hard working attorney who practices law in an ethical and professional manner. I also have the quality of being able to lead and get the most out of the people who work in my office. I am extremely proud of all the people I work with in defense of the accused.”
Eschenbacher said his ability to lead began its development with his experience as a U.S. Army officer. He also earned a Master’s degree in Public Administration.
“But mostly,” Eschenbacher said, “I have the maturity and good sense to be able to properly identify a problem and develop a proper solution to it.”
The three most important issues facing the county attorney’s office are accountability, accessibility and future budget problems, Eschenbacher said.
“Accountability is the basic job for the office of the County Attorney. That means bringing charges in a timely manner to insure that those who commit crimes are held accountable for their actions. Too many cases are not filed in time, resulting in the dismissal of charges with prejudice, leaving victims without justice. I will hold the office accountable to make sure that the job gets done,” Eschenbacher said.
Accessibility means that taxpayers, witnesses and victims are kept informed, and that questions or problems are resolved in a timely manner, according to Eschenbacher.
“If elected, I promise that if you cannot speak with the attorney handling your case, any message will be answered by the end of the next business day or you let me know and I will solve that problem. The people of the County Attorney’s Office work for the citizens of Lake County. As our bosses, you deserve a prompt response to your needs,” Eschenbacher said.
“With a forecasted reduction in tax revenue, the office will have to do more with less. Unfortunately, this is happening at the same time that steps need to be taken to bring the deputy attorney’s salaries in line with that of the Public Defenders. At the moment, defenders are paid around 20 percent more than the deputy attorneys are. This is a drag on morale and effectiveness. The support staff also needs to have their pay increased because without them nothing would get done in that office. I will look at areas that can result in savings, while at the same time working with the Commissioners to properly reward the people of the office for the work that they do,” Eschenbacher said.
Mitch Young has lived in Lake County for 25 years.
Young has 25 years of service with the Lake County Attorney’s Office including eight years as the Lake County Attorney. He also served 10 years as a Lake County Reserve Deputy.
Young has specialized training in prosecuting homicides, drug crimes, domestic violence, sexual crimes and driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol, including vehicular homicide. He also has experience in civil issues related to county government, including employment law and defense of civil lawsuit.
The three most important issues facing the Lake County Attorney’s office are:
1. Addressing the problems created by drug and alcohol abuse, particularly methamphetamine abuse, and balancing the need to provide treatment to offenders with the requirement that they be held accountable for the damage they cause. Nearly all violent and property crimes result from drug and alcohol abuse. Deterrence through punishment is most effective when combined with treatment to address the underlying motivation for criminal activity.
2. Managing increasing case submissions from law enforcement with limited resources. The public defender’s office employs twice as many attorneys and has a budget nearly double that of the Lake County Attorney’s Office. The disparity in resources means that county prosecutors are at a distinct disadvantage in the time they can devote to individual cases. While protecting the rights of criminal defendants is important, it should not receive a higher priority than protecting the citizens of Lake County.
3. Coordinating the efforts and contributions of the various stakeholders in Lake County’s justice system. Police agencies, courts, victim advocates, probation officers, chemical dependency treatment providers and mental health workers all have valuable contributions to make, but can only be effective if their efforts are properly directed. Experience working with these stakeholders is vital to ensuring their effectiveness.
