COOLEY, GARCETTI DEBATE HEATS UP.

Byline: Staff Writer

In an increasingly bitter race, District Attorney Gil Garcetti and challenger Steve Cooley exchanged sharp accusations Thursday over the style of their campaigns, how they would run the office and what they have done in the past.

Garcetti was on the defensive with accusations from Cooley - a head deputy in the office - as well as a number of former deputy district attorneys in the office at the evening debate sponsored by the Los Angeles County Bar Association's Bench, Bar, Media group at the Los Angeles Times.

``The job of being district attorney is about the truth,'' Cooley said at one point. ``Lying is not part of the game.''

Garcetti countered that he did not believe Cooley would know how to run the office.

``Being district attorney is about more than prosecution,'' said Garcetti, who is seeking his third four-year term in the November election. ``It is about prevention. It is not about sitting on your tush all day in an office.''

Although it began as a low-key exchange - with Garcetti and Cooley voicing agreement on a range of issues such as opposing measures to decriminalize drugs and rejecting the notion that movies and television affected violence - it quickly turned harsh.

Garcetti was questioned about two cases that are hot among a number of his deputies regarding contributions he received from the families of two people his office was prosecuting. Garcetti insisted he had taken no improper actions in either case.

Cooley contested that and went on to complain about what he said were misleading mailings made by Garcetti's campaign in which Cooley's first name was misspelled, and saying he opposed the ``three strikes, you're out'' law.

``You know that's wrong and then you cited (newspaper articles) that clearly spelled out my views,'' Cooley said. ``I challenge you to run a fair campaign.''

While Garcetti did not respond to that, Cooley said his position on applying the ``three strikes'' law would differentiate between a third crime of violence and one of a minor nature.

Garcetti said his office already has such a policy.

The two also differed on how the death penalty is determined to be sought in cases, as they both said they would oppose a moratorium on its use.

``The people of California have said they want the death penalty,'' Cooley said. ``But we only win it in 17 percent of the cases where we seek it.''

Cooley blamed that on a committee Garcetti has formed of senior administrators who he said are not experienced in death penalty cases and not reflective of the community.

``I would have a committee that is as diverse as the city and with attorneys who have prosecuted death penalty cases,'' Cooley said.

Garcetti defended the people he has assigned to that committee, saying they are experienced prosecutors who have handled death penalty cases.

The incumbent, who came in a surprising second to Cooley in the March primary, acknowledged he has made mistakes over the years.

``It humbles you,'' Garcetti said. ``But I have learned from those mistakes. I am a much better district attorney now than I was in 1992.''