ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - Tuesday was the deadline to file for the August 4 primary in St. Louis and Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner has one challenger on the Democratic ticket – Mary Pat Carl.
Pat Carl, who was with the office for 14 years and served as a lead homicide prosecutor, says too may prosecutors have left. She wants to return the staff to 50 or more people, she says it's down to near 20 now.
She also says on her day in office, if elected, she will set up a website that will display her report card.
"Smart prosecution is data-driven and the public has a right to know that data," Pat Carl says. "I would list what kind of charges are being refused, what kind of charges are being issued, what a trial conviction rate is and what diversion successes there are.
"And I'm not only going to publish the good stuff, I think the public has a right to know when an elected official makes a mistake and how they're gonna do it better."
She says she wants the office to mend fences with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department.
"I think you can hold the police accountable, without going to war with the police," Pat Carl says. "I think good officers out there want the bad officers to be held accountable by the circuit attorney's office. And that doesn't mean you have to go to war with them. Or that you can't open lines of communication."