Portsmouth Commonwealth’s Attorney Stephanie Morales is seeking a third full term, and she faces two well known challengers who maintain that her office has made too many mistakes.

Local attorneys Nathan Chapman and Steve Heretick are challenging the 41-year-old chief prosecutor, who’s running as a Democrat. Chapman, 55, and Heretick, 65, are on the ballot as independents. Chapman is running for elected office for the first time, while Heretick has served as a Portsmouth City Council member and state delegate.

In Morales’ tenure, multiple cases have been dismissed by judges, including some murder cases, because of mistakes the office has made, such as missing filing deadlines or failing to provide required information to the defense.

Among them was a murder case thrown out last year

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