YPSILANTI, MI -- An Ann Arbor-area lawyer is joining the field of Democratic candidates for Washtenaw County prosecutor, arguing his rape conviction makes him a unique choice to lead the county’s top legal office.

Hugo Mack, an Ypsilanti-based defense attorney, launched a campaign in early August. Mack says his experiences as a former public defender and his 10-year imprisonment make him a “once-in-a-millennium” candidate for the August 2020 primary because he knows the criminal justice system in its entirety.

Mack was convicted in a 1993 jury trial for the raping of a woman with whom he was having an affair. He maintains his innocence and unsuccessfully attempted to re-try his conviction throughout his incarceration and two years of parole. He remains on the state’s sex offender registry. The Attorney Discipline Board reinstated his law license in 2010.

Despite what he believes was wrongful imprisonment, he said he has no intention of ignoring domestic violence, if he is elected.

“Because of my situation, that doesn’t jade me or taint me against the system,” he said. "That’s why I fought to return to the practice of law – because I want to improve and enhance our system to make it better for everyone.”

A Pioneer High School class of 1973 graduate, Mack said he believes he was the first African American to obtain Eagle Scout ranking in Washtenaw County. After high school he attended University of Michigan and University of Toledo College of Law.

He returned to Michigan after law school and worked for the Washtenaw County’s public defenders office, eventually becoming chief assistant public defender. He was fired during the investigation into allegations of his misconduct, several months before he was charged in May 1992.

His hardest cases were within the juvenile court system where he would argue to terminate parental rights because the decision was often difficult to make, Mack said.

The 65-year-old prosecutor hopeful wants to treat the position as a what he calls a “minister of justice,” or a just advocate for no particular side. His restorative justice plan focuses on righting a case for the victim while avoiding unnecessary jail-time for the defendant. Some options include dispute resolution, reduced charges, parole, delayed sentencing and healing circles, a Native American practice that involves conflicting parties meeting with peacemakers.

“My responsibility is to say, ‘What can we do to make this person whole? What can we do to heal them?’” Mack said. “I’ve been all over the state. The main thing people want is to know that people care about them.”

Mack faces two other local attorneys for the Democratic primary next year: Arianne Slay, the Ann Arbor senior assistant city attorney, and Eli Savit, senior legal counsel to Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan.

Washtenaw County’s current prosecutor Brian Mackie is not seeking reelection. He was first elected in 1992.

One of Mack’s first acts as prosecutor would be to set up a 30-day give-back program for illegal firearms. The moratorium would allow individuals in possession of unlicensed weapons to return them without legal repercussions.

“If we can get one handgun off the street, that gun which is not used to hurt somebody or take somebody’s life, that program is a success,” he said.

He also wants the prosecutor’s office to help former inmates reintegrate into society. He supports reversing mandates that bar convicts from serving on a jury and wants to revise mandated felony reporting on job applications. He also supports changing the federal ban on incarcerated Americans receiving Pell Grants.

Mack said he wants to reduce public fear in the public safety system. One way to address this, he said, is through “home districting.” Under his plan, county prosecutors would be assigned to a community and regularly attend local government meetings, visit religious buildings and more to increase visibility and understanding of the role of the prosecutor’s office.

“People need to take away the mystique of the prosecutor’s office and not be afraid,” he said. "When people know the prosecutor is a fair-minded person and will treat them with justice and respect, then they don’t need to have such an innate fear of the police.”