Calaveras
County Taxpayers Association (CCTA) and the Copperopolis Community Center (CCC)
hosted a Candidates Forum at the Historic Armory on April 23, 2012.
Both
Calaveras County District Attorney Candidates, incumbent Barbara Yook and David
Singer, attended the event.
Each
candidate was asked a question from questions submitted by residents in
attendance. Questions were vetted by Copperopolis Community Center board
members and Calaveras County Taxpayers Association members. Candidates were
each given a limited amount of time to answer from two minutes to three
minutes. Candidates were rotated for each question. The answers posted here are
condensed.
Opening
statement:
Yook-
with Calaveras County DA office for 14 years…became acting DA in 2010…faced
budget cuts of 10% in 2010 and 17.5% in 2011…500 crimes no longer able to
convict do to AB109.
Singer-
DA is an administrative position sets the direction of the office…revolving
door for criminals in our county a catch and release program, I will be more
aggressive…put teeth back into the office.
Question
#1: What is your responsibility to the people you serve?
Yook
– keep the public safe, use resources wisely, know the laws and apply the laws…enforce
the laws and know them fully.
Singer
– keep them safe…AB109 drafted by the committee on budget not to reduce prison
population to cuts cost…will not compromise the safety of Calaveras County.
Question
#2: Are jury trials important for the DA? And how many have you had?
Singer
– very few cases go to jury 90% plus do not go to jury…5 cases have gone to
trial…negotiations important…fair and just results the goal.
Yook
– trials are incredibly important, without trial experience there would be no
guidance for deputy DA’s.
Question
#3: How many serious crimes have you dealt with?
Yook
– guns, sex cases, drug trafficking, numerous life in prison cases.
Singer
– I was a public defender in Amador County.
Question
#4: Are you for the death penalty?
Singer
– yes.
Yook
– the protocol of drugs used for death penalty.
Question
#5: AB109, how will it affect the county?
Yook
– It will change what we know…now legislature tells what they think is a
serious or violent crime.
Singer
– Our jails are not designed for long term housing.