Two candidates are on the ballot for Carbon County District Attorney in the Nov. 3 general election.

Incumbent Jean Engler, Democrat, will be challenged by Republican Adam Weaver.The Times News asked the candidates to submit a biography and answer questions related to the office.Their answers are published below.BackgroundJean Engler: Engler is a lifelong resident of Jim Thorpe. She attended Villanova University and Villanova School of Law. She joined the Carbon County DA's Office in January 1989, as an Assistant DA. She became District Attorney in August 2014, succeeding Gary F. Dobias upon his retirement.Adam Weaver: Weaver resides in Summit Hill with his wife, Kelli, and their two daughters. He graduated from Duquesne University, Ohio Northern College of Law, engaged in legal studies abroad in the London Law Program of University of Notre Dame and University of Iceland, and a 2010 graduate of Leadership Carbon program.What experience are you bringing to the office?Engler: I've been a prosecutor for 27 years, and have successfully obtained convictions in thousands of cases, from minor offenses to first-degree murder trials. I have put rapists, robbers, drug dealers and child molesters behind bars. I've handled cases in all levels of the state and federal systems. In the last year, I have obtained experience running the district attorney office - which includes supervising all 1,400 cases filed annually, as well as personnel and budget issues.Weaver: I'm a small-business owner of my law practice, being a local attorney since 2008, and have been court appointed to represent numerous low income criminal defendants. I have prior experience as an attorney for bankruptcy trustee investigating financial scams. I am familiar with our court system and the challenges facing our communities. I bring a fresh perspective on how to address the drug epidemic and blight that has been destroying our communities for years.What can be done to decrease addictions and repeat offenders?Engler: Because drug abuse is a major problem affecting Carbon County, it is important to focus on prosecutions of drug dealers. In regard to sentencing, my office is always amenable to sentencing alternatives and inpatient treatment versus incarceration in appropriate cases. As for decreasing repeat offenders, my office works together as a team with the prisons, the courts, probation offices, the drug and alcohol commission, and other agencies to prevent recidivism.Weaver: We must differentiate between how we prosecute supply versus demand crimes. Our taxpayers pay the district attorney to aggressively lead and explore new options, like drug courts utilized by 33 other counties, to reallocate our resources to stop the prison revolving door. This includes critically re-evaluating our county intermediate punishment plan, which has not been updated since 2006, to meaningfully address nonviolent drug abusers clogging our county prison, while at the same time, holding them accountable.