At a round of debates held at the Milwaukee Press Club on Wednesday, Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager’s leadership was questioned by her three potential challengers for the position.

The event featured two rounds of debates, one between Lautenschlager and Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, her opponent in the Democratic primaries. The second round was between the Republican challengers: Waukesha County District Attorney Paul Bucher and former U.S. Attorney J.B. Van Hollen.

Issues discussed at the debate were a backlog at the state crime lab in Madison, voter fraud, protecting children from Internet sexual predators and the high incarceration rate of African-Americans in Wisconsin.

“We can do better,” Falk said.

“The attorney general’s office needs to have some teeth,” said Bucher.

Both of the Republican candidates came out in strong support of mandatory identification at polling places. They argued that Wisconsin, with same-day registration, was specifically open to voter fraud.

“No identification at the polls and same day registration is a recipe for fraud,” said Bucher.

When asked about Wisconsin’s African-American incarceration rate, which is proportionately the highest in the nation, Falk suggested an increase in treatment for non-violent offenders.

“Things can be changed while still holding people accountable for their actions,” Falk said.

Among Van Hollen’s proposals were to fire the solicitor general and end what he calls “frivolous lawsuits” by the attorney general’s office. The cuts are part of a plan the former U.S. attorney has to run the state crime lab in a more businesslike manner.

State crime labs, which give scientific and technological help to law enforcement agencies, have been backlogged with new cases for years. Lautenschlager recently increased staff at several crime labs, something her opponents say is too little too late.

“How much has this cost us and why didn’t the attorney general do something about it sooner?” Van Hollen asked.

Lautenschlager defended her record as attorney general by pointing out her commitment to diversity in law enforcement and her service to Wisconsin.

“My record shows that I’ve been independent, thoughtful, and have always served the best interest of the state,” Lautenschlager said.

The race for attorney general has become contentious in recent weeks, with Falk mentioning Lautenschlager’s 2004 arrest for drunken driving in her TV ads. During a radio debate last month, Van Hollen told Bucher, “You suck,” after his opponent repeatedly interrupted him.

This debate managed to stay more poisitive.

“Sometimes, passion gets in the way of good political discourse,” Van Hollen said.

The primary elections will be held Sept. 12. The winners of the primaries then move on to the general elections Nov. 7.

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