Battle for Pierce County prosecuting attorney

TACOMA, Wash. — After her surprising primary upset in the race for Pierce County prosecuting attorney Mary Robnett, the candidate opposing incumbent Mark Lindquist, says things will get ugly.

That comes after Lindquist's campaign issued a sharply worded email to supporters claiming his opponent is unfit for public office.

Robnett pulled off an upset in Tuesday’s primary, beating Lindquist, the only other candidate running, by 10 points. “We’re pleased with the numbers,” Robnett said. “The numbers look great. I think the numbers are a clear indication that the people of Pierce County are ready for a change.”

Late Tuesday night, there was a response from the Lindquist campaign slamming Robnett,  who was once Lindquist's supervisor when both were deputy prosecuting attorneys.

The email claims to list Robnett's personal and ethical  failings, stating, “She lied under oath, she told staff in the office to destroy public records,  she is not fit for to hold public office.” Robnett denies all the claims.

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“Frankly, it feels kind of desperate to me,” Robnett said Wednesday morning. Asked about the allegations she lied under oath, Robnett replied: “I am anxious to see what kind of evidence he thinks he’s going to produce about that. I have not lied under oath.”

KIRO 7 made repeated attempts to ask Lindquist about the accusations on camera and late Wednesday received an email statement from his campaign: "Mark focused on his own record of making the community safer rather than his opponent's serious ethical and professional defects. The campaign will take on the job of informing voters of his opponent's record.”

Robnett, who once supported Lindquist and worked on his first campaign for prosecutor said she decided to run against him because of what she claims are problems with his leadership.

“Mark has some negatives. He’s currently got a public disciplinary hearing pending with the bar association. He could literally lose his license to practice law,” Robnett said.

So far, the Lindquist campaign has not produced evidence supporting the claims made in the email distributed to supporters.

Cox Media Group