Prosecutor Tracy to seek 4th term

Whitman County Prosecutor Denis Tracy announced Monday that he is running for re-election.

Tracy said he has tried to focus on “passionate, principled public service” for the past 11 years on the job and would be honored to continue to do so if re-elected.

Tracy pointed to big successes, like the murder convictions last year for the Lazcano brothers from Malden, and small successes, such as establishing a diversion program for first offenders who are under 21 years old and dealing with a charge of minor in possession of alcohol or minor in possession of marijuana.

Diverting these particular first offenders out of the court system has allowed Tracy to focus more resources on DUIs, thefts and assaults at a time of shrinking county budgets.

“I’m able to hold the young first offenders accountable with this program, while also allowing me to focus resources on those crimes that have the biggest potential to hurt others: DUIs, thefts and assaults,” he said.

Tracy has also established a drug court to handle cases of non-violent drug addicts.

“The goal is to get the person to change their behavior and become a productive member of society again. If we can achieve that, we end up with a safer community, the person is less likely to reoffend, and we have a stable taxpayer, instead of a drug addict in the cycle of crime, jail, release, and repeat. As long as the person is not committing a violent crime, if the court can get them to turn their lives around, everyone benefits. On the other hand, if they fail the program, they get automatically convicted and off to prison.”

Overall, Tracy said public safety is his number one priority.

“Public safety has been and will continue to be the focus of the prosecutor’s office,” he said.