Solicitor candidates swap jabs at Chapin forum

The three candidates for 11th Circuit solicitor traded jabs Tuesday over whose experience and vision best qualifies them to become chief prosecutor in Lexington County and nearby areas.

The exchanges among the three Republicans occurred in reply to 16 questions during a forum at Chapin Town Hall two weeks before voters make their selection.

Each of the three said it’s time for changes in an office that retiring Solicitor Donnie Myers held for a state record of 40 years, while differing on how to reduce a backlog of pending offenses contributing to overcrowding in the Lexington County jail.

University of South Carolina law school faculty member Candice Lively, a former Grand Strand assistant solicitor, said significant change isn’t likely from her two competitors since both were trained by Myers.

“You can’t talk about changes if you worked in the office while all this was going on,” she said.

Lively pledged frequent consultation with local leaders – calling them “the heartbeat of what’s going on in our community” – as well as law enforcement.

Rick Hubbard said his 22 years working under Myers – about half of them as his second-in-command – provides invaluable insight into fine-tuning its operation.

“That is critical to start Day One hitting the ground running,” said Hubbard, who has support from many law enforcement leaders. “This isn’t something you learn on the job.”

Larry Wedekind, who worked as an assistant solicitor under Myers, said the office is “locked in mediocrity.”

One of the main jobs of the next solicitor will be reducing unsettled cases that officials in Lexington County say total 4,800 there.

Lively promised to develop a “top 10 list ” of violent crimes for each prosecutor to handle and make sure those get attention while reviewing older matters to see what can be done.

It will take cooperation with judges and court staff to make sure violent crimes are disposed of promptly while nonviolent ones are handled to avert packing the jail, Hubbard said.

Wedekind promised to seek additional prosecutors, public defenders, judges and other personnel to reduce the backlog.

Unlike the other two candidates, Wedekind said a staff shake-up might be necessary

Prosecutors should be “trial dogs” who don’t keep their jobs if they can’t get matters settled with reasonable penalties, he said.

Hubbard defended the team of prosecutors assembled under Myers as an unrecognized “crown jewel” that needs better direction.

About 100 persons attended the forum that lasted nearly two hours.

Voters in Lexington, Edgefield, McCormick and Saluda counties will choose among the three at the June 14 Republican primary. Winning the GOP nomination is tantamount to election to the post Nov. 8 since no one else is running.

This story was originally published May 31, 2016 at 9:55 PM with the headline "Solicitor candidates swap jabs at Chapin forum."