Candidate for
District Attorney-Pub Adm; County of Fresno

Former Deputy District Attorney Lisa Sondergaard Smittcamp has been a respected fixture in the Central Valley's public safety community for nearly two decades. She is known as a tireless advocate for victims and an exceptional mentor in training young lawyers to become capable prosecutors.

After a successful four-year tenure with the Madera County District Attorney's Office, where she was assigned to the Major Crimes Unit, Lisa joined the Fresno County District Attorney's Office in 2001.

Lisa quickly established a reputation as a tough and well-prepared prosecutor. She earned the respect of judicial officers and other lawyers for her keen sense of justice and outstanding advocacy skills. She won numerous felony trials, many of which were prosecuted under California's Three Strikes Law, resulting in life prison terms.

Lisa served in the Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault/Child Abuse, and Homicide Units before being named Lead Attorney of the Domestic Violence Unit. In this role, Lisa supervised seven Deputy District Attorneys, and she and her team accomplished an unprecedented ninety-percent trial conviction rate.

Lisa has personally prosecuted hundreds of violent criminals, including Dejon Baskin who attempted to murder three victims in Reedley, CA. In this case, which received national media coverage, former U.S. Marine Dejon Baskin was convicted of three counts of First Degree Attempted Murder for the shooting and throat-slashing of his ex-wife, her mother and her brother. A Superior Court Judge noted that Lisa's opening statement was "the most compelling ever given in the history of the Fresno County Courthouse."

Born and raised in Fresno County, Lisa is accustomed to hard work and long hours. She grew up working for her mom at her grandfather's grape packing shed and cold storage, and she learned her strong work ethic from her father, who was a World War II veteran.

Lisa graduated from Fresno's San Joaquin Memorial High School before earning her Bachelor of Arts Degree in English Literature at the University of Southern California. During college, she studied abroad for a semester in Florence, Italy. After graduation, Lisa returned home to attend San Joaquin College of Law, where she obtained her Juris Doctor in 1995.

Lisa and her husband, Brent Smittcamp, live in Fresno where they are raising their two children. Brent is the President of Wawona Packing Company, which his grandfather Earl founded in 1946. Brent is a third-generation farmer, growing numerous varieties of tree fruit and citrus.

In her spare time, Lisa enjoys watching her children's sports activities, as well as photography and reading. She serves on the Board of Directors of San Joaquin College of Law and the Marjaree Mason Center, and is a member of the Candlelight Guild.