21 News held an exclusive debate between incumbent Democratic candidate for Mahoning County Prosecutor Gina DeGenova and Republican candidate Lynn Maro. Here's what each candidate had to say.

Firstly, Gina DeGenova was asked about a prosecutor's job to punish criminals, as well as rehabilitate them. DeGenova said there are some instances such as drug cases where candidates qualify for drug court and if they complete their treatment, their case would be dismissed.

She said she welcomes diversion programs, but her duty is to keep the community safe and that she wants to help criminals, but their actions have consequences and she's committed to making sure criminals receive the appropriate consequences for their actions.

Maro says when looking at the issue of punishment, it is up to the judge to decide rather than a jury or the state.

Maro voiced issues with a lack of life sentences in murder cases and other violent cases in Mahoning County compared to the other two Mahoning Valley counties due to reduced sentences from plea deals.

Maro went on to say when this issue was brought up to DeGenova, she said she didn't plan to make any changes and didn't know where she got her data from. Maro said those numbers came from the Supreme Court.

In response to claims regarding certain cases being dismissed including a rape case, DeGenova clarified that the reason the rape case was dismissed was because the accused suspect died before being convicted and you can't convict a dead person.

DeGenova went on to say if someone's murder charge is reduced to a manslaughter charge, they are not getting a "slap on the wrist."

DeGenova was asked about communication with victims and how that could be improved. DeGenova said victims are notified in regards to hearing dates and have the right to appear at all hearings through text and email alerts.

DeGenova said plea deals are required to be discussed with victims and it is a "collaborative effort" to finalize a plea deal.

However, Maro noted a case where a police officer who was a victim of a crime was not notified that a plea deal was reached where multiple charges were dismissed from a plea deal including assault on a police officer, resisting arrest and obstruction of justice.

Maro said that officer only found out about this from a newspaper article.

Maro was then asked about how prosecutors could make sure no one is convicted based on situations like race, poverty, etc.

Maro noted racial issues in cases such as the Rowan Sweeney murder case saying that three Black men were charged in that case, but a white woman in the house was not charged despite destroying evidence by deleting text messages.

DeGenova responded by asking her to name a case decided based solely on someone's race, economic situation or where they were from.

DeGenova was then asked about pending litigation against her by Marty Desmond regarding the firing of an employee. She responded stating that the allegations in the lawsuit are untrue Maro is using personal issues involving her and her estranged husband for political gain.

Maro denied DeGenova's allegations.

Maro was then asked about her what she would do differently when it came to plea deals. Maro responded that Mahoning County is "plea bargaining away [its] most violent offenses."

Maro went on to say plea bargaining on murder cases is not happening as much in other Valley counties compared to Mahoning County. She went on to say if you bring a death penalty specification on a case, it should not be dismissed.

DeGenova says she has never processed a death penalty case as county prosecutor, but pointed out that the case where the death penalty was dismissed was the Rowan Sweeney murder case where the death penalty was dismissed because of an agreement for the suspect to testify in the case.

DeGenova went on to say Sweeney's family is pleased with the sentences handed down to all three suspects and that all three were prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

In Maro's closing statements she stated she decided to run because she was frustrated with the delays and dismissals in cases, as well as cases being lost because "rules weren't followed."

"When you continually wait until a few days before trial to give a witness list or to give all of the evidence and then you want to blame the defense attorney for saying 'that's not what the law requires. We need a continuance' and say it's the defense attorneys shows the flippant attitude towards the constitutional structure that was created hundreds of years ago to ensure justice. We don't have that in Mahoning County," Maro said.

"Go on any docket when there's a trial set and the defense attorney requests a continuance and you will see within a few days supplemental discovery from the state. That isn't how it's supposed to be," Maro continued.

In DeGenova's closing statements, she noted her experience stating that she's handled over 2,500 matters in cases during her time as assistant prosecutor, a chief assistant and as prosecutor.

She also noted she works directly with law enforcement and has received a great deal of support from law enforcement in her campaign for county prosecutor and once against mentioned the litigation against her.

"I don't pull punches. I don't use gutter politics to gain political advantage by using the estranged husband in a bitter divorce. ... If they thought that filing this lawsuit or this petition saying the most egregious things about me would hurt me or make me quit, they're wrong. I am here. I have dusted myself off and I can't wait to continue to be the community's prosecutor," DeGenova said.

DeGenova then promised voters that they would get "the best staff with the highest experience and a devotion to [Mahoning County]" if they vote for her come November.

"I will protect your families. I will do my job and I am humbly asking for your vote in November," DeGenova said.

These are just some of the highlights from the debate. You can watch the full unedited debate in the video player above.