Her opponent, David W. Deane, 39, is a native Virginian who has been practicing law for 14 years. He is a partner at Albo & Oblon in Arlington, where he manages the firm?s criminal division and started his career as a prosecutor in Fairfax County before going into private practice.
Stamos says her experience should win her the position, while Deane says he will bring a fresh perspective to the office. Outside of modest operational changes, the office?s structure would remain the same under Stamos. Deane wants to streamline the way the office handles drug charges and hire more Spanish-speaking prosecutors, a move Stamos also welcomes.
When it comes to the death penalty, the two candidates differ.
Deane opposes capital punishment and said: ?The commonwealth?s attorney has the discretion of what level of charge to bring. I think the only valid argument for the death penalty is sheer vengeance.?
Stamos said it is her job to present the facts of a capital case to the jury.
?These are the kinds of cases where the jury has to make that determination, and I think it is appropriate for them to do so,? she said.
Stamos, who grew up in Chicago and worked as a journalist while going to law school at night, has received numerous endorsements in Arlington and throughout Virginia. She significantly outraised Deane; about $99,100 as of June 30, compared with Deane?s $7,880.
?I believe very deeply in the criminal justice system we have in this county and making it work the right way,? said Stamos, who added that she is honored to be a public servant.
Among the highlights of her career, Stamos won five life sentences plus 168 years in prison in 2010 for Jorge Avila Torrez, who was found guilty of abducting and raping a University of Maryland graduate student, among other charges. Torrez, a former U.S. Marine, was indicted by a federal grand jury in May for the 2009 slaying of Navy Petty Officer Amanda Jean Snell, 20, at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall.
Stamos also worked to convict several murderers. Among them was Matthew J. Pahno in 2006, who was convicted of strangling and decapitating his aunt, Maria ?Marissa? Teresa Dela Cruz Escoto, and Zachary Cooper, who was convicted of killing his wife, his 5-year-old daughter and his girlfriend in 2002.
?The hallmark of this job is having the seriousness of purpose, understanding and appreciating prosecutorial discretion and showing how it is exercised,? Stamos said. ?I think my experience doing what I do, being a mom, a parent in the community, is what I need to do this job well,? she said.
S. Randolph Sengel, Alexandria commonwealth?s attorney, endorsed Stamos and said she is a skilled trial attorney with ?excellent judgment in terms of assessing cases and determining what the right outcome is.? He said experience is key.
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