Having spent five years as a deputy district attorney in Salt Lake County and the past six years as Salt Lake City Prosecutor, Democrat Sim Gill is the only candidate with experience handling felony cases.

But Republican Lohra Miller - whose small law firm handles misdemeanor prosecutions for four local cities, as well as civil litigation for a fifth municipality- claims she has been a prosecutor longer than Gill and is better qualified to handle the civil duties required by the district attorney's job.

Gill counters that he is the only one who has proven he can manage a large organization like the district attorney's office, as well as handle the somber responsibilities that come with the job.

"Who is going to run that office? Somebody with experience in that office, somebody with felony experience? Or somebody who is hoping to learn on the job?'' Gill said during a recent interview.

Gill likened Miller to a foot doctor who yearns to perform heart surgery.

"This job is too serious to be playing around with somebody with that lack of experience," he said.

Miller acknowledges she has never handled a felony case, but dismisses that as irrelevant.

"It's a red herring," Miller told The Tribune. "Prosecution is prosecution. It's about knowing the criminal justice system and being a leader.

"I'm in the courtroom trying cases on a daily basis, and I'd stack my court time up against Sim Gill's any day of the week."

Outgoing District Attorney Dave Yocom - whose has spent four terms and 16 of the past 20 years heading the office - scoffs at what he calls Miller's naivete.

"I about fall off my chair every time she says there is no difference between misdemeanors and felonies," Yocom said. "The public knows the difference between murder and trespassing."

Noting that Miller's campaign motto is, "ask a cop," Yocom said voters should ask a lawyer or a judge. "The majority of attorneys would say Sim is more qualified," he said.

More than 100 attorneys, as well as a handful of retired judges, have donated to Gill's campaign. He is also endorsed by the 400-member Salt Lake City police union.

But the Fraternal Order of Police - 700 strong in Salt Lake County - has backed Miller, who gives her cell phone number to every officer in the cities she oversees.

"She's just tough. She's tough on crime," said Kelly Atkinson, executive director of the FOP. "She's a cop's prosecutor. She believes that when bad guys do something bad, they ought to be held accountable. She's not willing to plead down and let 'em off.

"If Lohra has the case, she pushes it, and that's refreshing," Atkinson said.

But Gill says he, too, is tough on crime - and even tougher than Miller when it comes to drunk drivers.

"I refuse to plea bargain on a DUI, and I refuse to give pleas in abeyance," Gill says. "It's a very serious offense and we need to draw a line in the sand."

A plea in abeyance means the case will be dismissed if the offender follows through with treatment. But Gill says the drunk drivers he prosecutes can either plead guilty or go to trial. One way or another, he says, "You will be convicted."

Miller counters that it can take up to two years to get a DUI case before a jury. Meanwhile, the offenders may be out there re-offending.

She said she can get offenders into court - and into treatment - within two weeks of their arrest by routinely granting pleas in abeyance to first-time offenders.

"We need swift justice," Miller says. And although the abeyance cases are eventually dismissed, Miller noted that a recent law makes them count toward harsher penalties for repeat offenders.

Of the 88 attorneys in the district attorney's office, 22 are civil attorneys who advise the County Council and mayor, handle contract disputes and defend the county against lawsuits.

Miller claims her background gives her the edge on Gill when it comes to the civil part of the district attorney's responsibilities.

"I'm experienced in redevelopment law, planning and zoning, personnel, civil rights, water law, utilities and taxation," Miller said. "I have a broad base of experience that is perfect for the job."

And as far as managing the attorneys and more than 100 support staff in the district attorney's office, Miller points to her ability to juggle 20,000 cases annually (50,000 counting traffic tickets) in multiple courts with an office of 10 employees.

But Gill notes that he is already managing "the largest municipal prosecutors office in the state," with 15 attorneys and 20 support staff.

"I've dealt with budget issues, personnel, policy and technology," Gill said.

And Gill is not without civil-side experience. He was counsel to the county health department for about eight months. "I've worked on both sides of the fence at the DA's office," he said.

Miller claims that working with multiple municipalities and a variety of elected officials proves she has the "ability to work with others."

Gill points to his work with various agencies to rid the state of the pimps who run traveling prostitutes known as "circuit girls," and to establish special courts for mentally ill defendants and drug addicts, where the priority is on medication and treatment rather than jail.

"The idea is to free up jail beds so we can lock up the people who are a genuine risk to our community," Gill said.

Miller said she also participates in so-called therapeutic justice programs.

"The biggest difference is, mine are 100 percent offender-paid - not one tax dollar," she said. "It's a great concept, but you have to put the burden back onto the offender."

If elected, each candidate has plans for improvements.

Gill wants to create a team of attorneys to handle domestic violence cases, which pose unique prosecution problems, such as victims recanting statements. He also plans to seek solutions to jail overcrowding and overburdened court calendars.

Miller would assign teams of prosecutors to local jurisdictions so "the same attorneys would work with the same police officers day-in and day-out," to build a level of trust and promote questions and feedback.

"I'm running for this office because we need to make a change," Miller said. "I can come with a fresh perspective . . . and make this office a premier office in the nation."

Said Gill: "The DA's office deals with crime that just is devastating - Lori Hacking, Elizabeth Smart, the Destiny Norton matter. And for every one of those media cases, there were many more with just as profound an impact for our citizens.

"It's serious business and it needs a serious prosecutor to do the job."

shunt@sltrib.com

Lohra Miller

* Age: 40

* Family; Married, four children.

* Education: Undergraduate degree from Brigham Young University. Law degree from BYU's J. Reuben Clark School of Law.

* Career experience: A prosecutor for 14 years, Miller currently works with her husband, Lorenzo, to provide contract prosecutorial services to the cities of Cottonwood Heights, Herriman, Holladay and Taylorsville. They also handle civil litigation for West Jordan City.

* A fun fact: Miller has a peregrine falcon, which she uses to hunt small game. She said she and her husband took up the sport more than a decade ago while looking for an activity they could do together.

Sim Gill

* Age: 45

* Family: Married, two children

* Education: Bachelor of science from the University of Utah. Law degree from Northwestern School of Law at Lewis and Clark College, Oregon.

* Career experience: Twelve and a half years as a public attorney, five of them as Deputy Salt Lake County District Attorney, and the past six years as Salt Lake City Prosecutor.

* A fun fact: Gill loves to cook with his family. He says it is great therapy after a stressful day at the office. He says his cream of asparagus soup is to die for.