To the editor:

We are longtime residents of the county and Bainbridge Island. We are troubled by the candidacy of Bob Scales for prosecutor. Here’s why.

The prosecutor must know the county courts and judges. Apparently, Scales has never tried a case in Kitsap County.

The county prosecutor must manage an office of 80-plus employees. It appears that Scales has never been the director or managing partner of any law firm, public or private.

The prosecutor must work well with federal law enforcement. At a May 29 press conference, United States Attorney Jenny Durkan criticized Scales, a Seattle police department lawyer, for submitting a report to the Community Police Commission which Ms. Durkan said “asked the wrong questions and looked at the wrong data.”

According to the Seattle Times, she said: “That report is not anything that anyone who knows anything about law enforcement would rely upon.”

This spring, Scales unsuccessfully sought support to run for judge. It is unclear when he decided to run for prosecutor.

Scales claims to be a Democrat. His request to be approved as a candidate was rejected by the 23rd District Democrats and the Kitsap County Democrats.

We urge voters to consider these issues.

JOHN MUENSTER, SANDRA BAUER, PAUL CULLEN, DOUGLASS MACKENZIE, STEFAN PASKELL

Bainbridge Island and Indianola