Hillsborough County Attorney Patricia LaFrance welcomes the challenge from her former boss, Dennis Hogan, who on June 3 announced his intention to run for re-election as County Attorney, a post he lost to LaFrance in 2012.

“Dennis says he cut spending, but he didn’t. The legislature did that. What he failed to say is that those cuts devastated our office. The workload increased dramatically, and I don’t believe he fought hard enough to retain jobs,” LaFrance said. “That’s why I made the decision to run, based on his failed leadership at the time.”

LaFrance, who plans to run again in November, was responding to information posted on Hogan’s campaign website , announcing his candidacy, which reads: “I created budgets that spent 8% less money than when I arrived and I increased efficiency by studying then changing the work flow. That was done while the office handled a record amount of cases.”

LaFrance said Hogan does not have the experience needed as a prosecutor to do the job, and welcomes the chance to defend her record as county attorney.

“Maybe this time Dennis will be willing to debate me – he wouldn’t debate me last election. I’ll debate Dennis Hogan right now,” LaFrance said. “I’ll gladly compare my record with his.”

Filing period for the November 2014 election cycle opens June 4.