(WPR)---Former Kenosha County District Attorney Bob Jambois is embroiled in a contentious primary election battle in Dane County. Jambois, who came out of retirement to prosecute cases in Dane County, is challenging his boss, Ismael Ozanne. Both are Democrats.
The race has centered on allegations of office mismanagement.
Ozanne was the first African-American district attorney in Wisconsin's history when he was appointed to the position by then-Gov. Jim Doyle in 2010. Ozanne ran unopposed and earned a full, four-year term in 2012.
Jambois’ bid to unseat his current boss is centered upon allegations that Ozanne is often out of the office and rarely in the courtroom, leading to low office morale and disorganization.
Jambois has released letters from two judges who express similar concerns.
"The Dane County District Attorney's Office was demoralized, it was dysfunctional, and it was disorganized," Jambois said of his first impressions of the office, speaking at a candidate forum in Madison on Tuesday. He took on his current role as assistant district attorney in 2015.
Jambois also points to a number of attorneys leaving the office as proof of that dysfunction. More than a dozen have left the office over the past two years.
Ozanne pushes back, saying those departures are due to poor funding levels.
"Realize when people leave our office, they get an increase in pay — $20,000 to $30,000 — and less work," Ozanne said.
Ozanne is armed with a slew of high-profile endorsements in the race, including U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney, Madison Mayor Paul Soglin, Dane County Executive Joe Parisi and several state lawmakers.
Aside from their conflict over office management, the candidates largely agree on policy issues. They both support expanding restorative justice programs and providing more early intervention services to children living in poverty.
There is no Republican candidate in the race, so whoever wins the Democratic primary will serve a four-year term as Dane County district attorney.
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