It's all about experience in the race for Salt Lake County District Attorney.

The three candidates sparred in a debate Tuesday at the University of Utah's Hinckley Institute of Politics. Democrat Sim Gill claimed that Republican Lohra Miller doesn't have enough felony prosecution knowledge, while Miller countered that she's the one with the most civil litigation experience.

Libertarian Rob Latham acknowledged that he's not nearly as qualified for the job as the other two candidates.

"I readily admit Sim and Lohra have more experience than I do," Latham said.

The debate Tuesday centered on the experience factor.

Gill said he is running for district attorney because he is the most qualified. The 44-year-old Democrat has worked as Salt Lake City's chief prosecutor since January 2000 and was a deputy prosecutor for the district attorney's office for more than four years, when he served in the arson and fraud unit.

"I've actually sent people to prison, not just jail," Gill said.

Miller, 39, has never prosecuted a felony case — a fact that her opponents readily bring up in public appearances.

She has provided prosecutorial services throughout the Salt Lake Valley for more than 15 years. She currently prosecutes cases in municipal justice courts in Holladay, Taylorsville, West Jordan and Cottonwood Heights.

"I feel like I'm prosecuting felonies on a daily basis," Miller said. "I am getting convictions on cases the DA's office has declined to take as felonies."

Miller said the district attorney is not only responsible for prosecuting felonies. She said 50 percent of the workload is spent offering legal opinions to the County Council and mayor.

"I bring a broad base of understanding," she said.

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E-mail: ldethman@desnews.com