Like Prevails Over Iseri In Kauai Prosecutor Race
Rebecca Like has won the race to keep her short-term occupation as Kauai’s acting prosecuting legal professional in excess of former county prosecutor Shaylene Iseri, who dropped her bid for a comeback.
Like, who has by no means held public workplace in advance of, experienced 70.5{a73b23072a465f6dd23983c09830ffe2a8245d9af5d9bd9adefc850bb6dffe13} of the vote in contrast to 29.5{a73b23072a465f6dd23983c09830ffe2a8245d9af5d9bd9adefc850bb6dffe13} for Iseri.
The election pitted two former foes against a single one more.
Like sued Iseri in 2012, alleging that Iseri retaliated in opposition to her when she was deputy prosecutor due to the fact she failed to take part in Iseri’s reelection marketing campaign. It was one particular of a half dozen civil lawsuits that named Iseri as a defendant throughout the time when she held the career of Kauai’s leading prosecutor.
Now in a place to reshape regulation enforcement, Like has explained that she would work to reduce the selection of people today who go to jail for just one-off, minor crimes and advocate for thorough use of mental well being and habit expert services in the felony justice technique.
In her new function, Like has reported she’d boost systems to support previous prisoners reenter society and bolster social providers and diversion plans for individuals who dedicate minimal-stage offenses, these as trespassing or disorderly carry out, and deficiency access to mental overall health care or housing.
In the course of her marketing campaign, Like has touted her managerial capabilities. As a boss of a 45-particular person employees, she mentioned she’ll be predictable and reliable.
Like is endorsed by her predecessor Justin Kollar, who stepped down in September to relocate to California. Kollar has explained Like as truthful and intelligent, including that she “has by no means shown up unprepared for everything in the total time I have acknowledged her.”
“She’s an great courtroom litigator,” he reported, “as well as any individual who’s been a manager for the previous nine several years. She has integrity, and she’s knowledgeable.”
Kollar’s resignation prompted the distinctive election, which value taxpayers roughly $475,000. As the county’s recently elected top prosecutor, Like, of Anahola, will finish out Kollar’s remaining phrase, which finishes in 2024.
