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Prosecutor candidates lock hornsBy Rob Seal / rseal@dailyprogress.com | 978-7265October 19, 2007

The challenger for Albemarle County's top prosecutorial position said Thursday that there are systemic problems in the office of Commonwealth's Attorney Jim Camblos, who in turn disputed the allegation and praised the professionalism of his staff.

Democrat Denise Lunsford has said the Republican incumbent treated victims unprofessionally and that he is inconsistent in his prosecutions.

"No one should leave the office, regardless of whether their case is prosecuted, feeling as if they have not been heard," Lunsford said Thursday at a candidate forum held by the local bar association.

Camblos said the complaints Lunsford referenced stem from a small number of cases in which the alleged victims were unhappy authorities decided not to prosecute.

"Nobody cares more about victims than my office, but we aren't able to tell everyone the things they want to hear," said Camblos, who is running for his fifth term on a platform that includes pledges to fight underage drinking and protect the elderly from crime.

The forum was held at First Presbyterian Church in Charlottesville and also included the candidates for the Circuit Court clerk's post, which is also up for grabs Nov. 6.

Afterward, Camblos said he's never heard anyone other than Lunsford level allegations of victim mistreatment.

"Nobody has ever said to me what cases [Lunsford] is talking about and nobody else has ever said that we have a problem in our office," Camblos said.

Lunsford, however, said there are institutional problems with her opponent's management style, and that the county's chief law enforcement officer should not exhibit an "'I am the law' philosophy."

The challenger has vowed to change the culture of the commonwealth's attorney's office, and to make decisions the community can understand.

"This extends beyond a couple of people who were not happy that their cases weren't prosecuted," Lunsford said.

Susan Painter, a county victim witness advocate, said she is not aware of any such victim-relations problem, and that police, prosecutors and her office work hard to help victims navigate the justice system.

"Unfortunately, not every victim is going to be happy with the outcome of every case, but I certainly don't think there is a widespread problem," Painter said Thursday.

Painter, who works for the police department, said that doesn't mean there isn't room for improvement.

"I'm sure there are people who have had bad experiences along the way, and I hate that," she said. "We want everybody to feel that they have received justice, but unfortunately that doesn't always happen."

Susan Russell is the mother of a former University of Virginia student who reported a rape in 2004. Russell, founder of uvavictimsofrape.com, said her experience with county prosecutors was negative and unsatisfying.

"That office does not treat the victims with care and does not give any respect to the victim," said Russell, who supports Lunsford.

Camblos said he is familiar with Russell's daughter's case, and that it could not be prosecuted successfully.

"We met extensively with the detective from the UVa police who investigated the case, met extensively with the mother and the daughter," Camblos said. "We explained to them the reasons that this was not a prosecutable case."

Also at the forum Thursday, the candidates for Albemarle's Circuit Court clerk answered questions prepared by the bar association.

Independent Allen Van Clief, a former employee at the White House Law Library, said he would bring his years of management experience to the clerk's office.

Republican nominee John Dawson, a local businessman and former director of a Florida YMCA, said he would bring his business acumen to the post.

Democrat Debra Shipp, a 31-year veteran of the clerk's office, said she is best poised to identify problems that need to be fixed and that she can make a smooth transition to the top spot.