SAN JOSE -- Santa Clara County is looking like it will have an extremely competitive election next year for the office of District Attorney. Veteran prosecutor Jeff Rosen announced today that he will challenge incumbent DA Dolores Carr.
Rosen says Carr has made significant missteps since she was elected in 2006. Carr has generated controversy in recent weeks in connection with her contacts with a prosecutor in a case where the defense attorney was one of her major campaign contributors. Rosen specifically cited Carr's elimination of the office's Cold Case Unit as one thing he would reverse if elected.
Carr sent out an e-mail which called Rosen's record into question even before he began his press conference announcing his candidacy.
Carr's e-mail, to supporters and the media, noted that Rosen had been featured in the 2006 Mercury News series "Tainted Trials, Stolen Justice" as one of several Santa Clara County prosecutors who had ignored a judge's ruling in order to get a conviction. She also accused him of inflating the number of prosecutors who are endorsing him.
