Opinion : Letter to the Editor: Thompson distorts the record

Dear Editor,

County Attorney David Thompson has distorted the record by misrepresenting his opponent's trial experience.

In the October 7th article written by county attorney David Thompson he wrongfully suggests that Ray Lough lacks major trial experience.

After graduating from law school Ray was hired as a public defender for the Nashville Metropolitan area. He worked there for five years and in that time represented 4,614 individuals. Ray handled hundreds of bench trials and four felony murder cases. The most challenging of these cases was State vs Leslie and State vs Collier. Mr. Leslie was not found guilty and Mr. Collier was convicted of involuntary manslaughter instead of first-degree murder as alleged.

After leaving Nashville he went to work in the Linn County public defender's office where he again handled several bench trials and two felony jury trials. In one of these jury trials the offense of willful injury was alleged. Ray's client was acquitted in this case. He also, along with another member of the office, tried the case of State vs Conner. Mr. Conner was charged with two counts of felony murder and arson.

He has had other significant trial experience with his appointment as special prosecutor for Tama County wherein he successfully prosecuted an individual for assaulting a Tama County deputy.

Along with these examples Ray served a the staff attorney for Bethany Christian Services for five years. While there he successfully prosecuted over 130 terminations of parental rights cases. This also included the handling of the appeals of some of these cases. Over the past ten years, his practice has shifted to one that provides less opportunity for trials but he has had several bench trials mostly in juvenile court.

The issue of who has more experience should not be in dispute as we both are experienced enough to do the job, that is not the issue in this race.

Trish Lough