Eisinger and Lukson have different ideas about being Benton prosecutor. Here’s our take

The door has opened for new leadership in the Benton County Prosecutor’s Office, and fortunately for the Tri-Cities, voters will be well served no matter which candidate is elected.

After 36 years of faithful service, Democrat Andy Miller is retiring, and there are two exceptional attorneys who want to take over where Miller leaves off.

They are Republicans Ryan Lukson and Eric Eisinger.

While the candidates have their differences, there is one frightening topic in which they both agree.

And it’s that crime is rising and people don’t feel as safe in their neighborhoods as they once did.

It is apparent that Lukson and Eisinger are both focused on protecting the community.

It’s also apparent they both want to make sure the local public safety sales tax is renewed by voters next year. They agreed that if it isn’t, law enforcement positions will be gutted and it will be even more difficult to bring criminals to justice.

The dividing line between Lukson and Eisinger is how they would approach the job.

Eisinger is eager to lead by example and use his courtroom experience to try cases and make sure the Tri-Cities doesn’t turn into a crime-ridden community.

Lukson, who is already a deputy prosecutor in Benton County, wants to make sure he’s building relationships, getting funding for the office, lobbying for state police reforms, hiring more staff and focusing on the big picture.

It’s an interesting contrast.

Eisinger has been an attorney for 19 years, was a prosecutor in Yakima County, Lewis County and an attorney for the city of Kennewick before turning to private practice. He is now a senior partner at the Richland law firm of Walker Heye.

He told the Herald Editorial Board that his actual trial and courtroom experience is what sets him apart from Lukson.

In addition to his work as a criminal prosecutor, Eisinger has also done criminal defense work and he’s worked numerous civil cases.

“I’ve been the person sitting with the client in the jail who has an opiate addiction where I’m walking them through all the difficulties they are facing,” he said.

Eisinger believes that working both sides of the criminal justice system and his varied experience is necessary to lead a team of criminal attorneys “and that’s like 70 or 80 percent of what the prosecutors do.”

Lukson, on the other hand, has been a deputy prosecutor for the past 11 years in the Benton County office, so he has an in-the-weeds understanding of what Miller’s role really is.

“I know exactly what the position is,” he said. “I can walk into the office and seamlessly take over day one and know exactly what the position takes.”

While Lukson has litigation experience, he doesn’t see trying cases as his primary role if he’s elected.

He said that thankfully, Benton County has a group of seasoned criminal prosecutors who are more experienced “than Eric and I combined.”

Lukson emphasized that his relationship-building skills are what’s needed in the office at this time. He’s been endorsed by Miller and colleagues in the prosecutor’s office, as well as Benton County Commissioners Shon Small and Jerome Delvin.

He also has the backing of both Benton and the Franklin county sheriffs.

Lukson said with the public safety sales tax issue coming up, it is more important than ever to have consistency and trust, and he sees the prosecutor at the forefront of getting the tax renewed and selling it to the public.

In addition to his work in the office, Lukson also is a member of the Richland City Council and was elected mayor during his first term. As it happened, he was mayor during the height of COVID and ended up becoming the spokesperson for all the mayors in the Tri-Cities during that tumultuous time.

That does say something about his ability to lead.

Eisinger has the backing of the Benton County Republican Party and he is asking questions of law enforcement officers and trying to find out what they need.

He said the community wants a prosecutor who is going to prosecute crime.

“I don’t envision myself as an administrative type prosecutor but one who leads through action — leading by being in the trenches,” he said.

Lukson, however, insists that Miller is one of the only elected prosecutors in the state with a county our size who tries cases. Between being in the courtroom and managing the office, Lukson said he believes Eisinger will see it isn’t possible to do both jobs.

That’s why county sheriffs don’t work the beat as detectives, Lukson said.

Miller has offered to continue trying some cases he is involved with now, particularly the Fred Meyer shooting. Lukson said allowing Miller to wrap up some of the cases he’s handling now is “a no-brainer.”

Eisinger noted that Miller is a phenomenal trial attorney but Eisinger has not accepted the offer just yet.

“It can be difficult to bring in a former prosecutor and at the same time have an effective transition of leadership in the office, which I think needs to happen,” he said. “His offer is really a very kind one, it’s one that I’m strongly considering and I have told him I’m going to get back to him on that.”

Eisinger’s commitment to the job and community is obvious, and he would bring an outsider’s perspective to the office, which could be beneficial. He has a reputation for being a team player and he likely would learn the job quickly.

But Lukson has a strong handle on it already and the staff are behind him.

With so much riding on the passage of the public safety sales tax, we think Lukson’s proven leadership skills are what’s required right now.

The Tri-City Herald Editorial Board recommends Ryan Lukson for Benton County Prosecutor.

This story was originally published October 20, 2022 at 7:26 AM.