You might be wondering why The Inquirer Editorial Board endorsement in the city's district attorney's race is addressed to you.

This page might not be endorsing incumbent Democrat if Republicans had offered a well-qualified opponent in this race.

Abraham is far better as a politician - her three full terms in office attest to that - than she has been as the city's top law enforcement officer. Too often, she has not gone after elected officials and police officers for crimes that, at the very least, abuse the public trust.

She did push a grand jury to issue an exemplary report on sexual abuse by Roman Catholic priests. But Abraham did not test whether she could bring charges against church officials who covered-up these heinous acts.

The incumbent doesn't earn high marks for her contribution toward keeping Philadelphia safe, either. The city is on pace to register a record 380 murders for a year.

Many factors contribute to the homicide rate, some of which Abraham cannot control. But as the only elected crime fighter in the city, she should not escape some responsibility for the murder spike. She needs a better strategy than promoting the death penalty.

Democratic primary foe Seth Williams had the experience to succeed her. That is why the Editorial Board recommended him last May over Abraham.

But we cannot in good conscience back Republican Louis S. Schwartz.

As an attorney, Schwartz has mainly handled traffic violations, DUI and drug cases. He has no compelling or fresh vision for this post. He is unprepared to oversee an office of 300 assistant district attorneys and 275 support staff.

Here's the bigger point, gentlemen. Philadelphia is made weaker by having a one-party political system. Democrats in the city are eyebrow-deep in pay-to-play investigations and indictments.

One of the best motivators for Democrats to clean up their act would be fear of voters booting them from office if Republicans fielded strong challengers.

Mr. Canuso, you make a good argument that "the establishment is very difficult to break into." You're right that candidates of the caliber who could defeat Abraham are discouraged by the Democratic stranglehold, by the pay cut that many in private legal practice would have to take, by the public scrutiny they would face. But those conditions are part of democracy's compact. Many have agreed to them in the name of public service.

Surely you could have recruited a better candidate who was willing to accept those conditions. Shame on city Republicans if no one would.

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