Candidate for
District Attorney; County of Sacramento

1. Responding to realignment by creating innovative programs for the treatment of drug abusers, low-level and first time offenders, including the creation and expansion of veterans' treatment courts, drug courts, and domestic violence treatment programs, and creating a culture of communication within the DA's Office to enhance public safety through crime prevention programs.

2. Prioritizing rare prison bed space for the most violent and predatory of offenders, such as murderers, rapists, pedophiles, and violent gang members. This needs to be addressed immediately due to the federal court order reducing California's prison population.

3. Reinvigorating the Special Prosecution Unit by establishing a designated political corruption prosecutor to address crimes committed in the Capitol regardless of the political party affiliation of the offender. The Special Prosecution Unit also needs to be given the resources and directive to fully and fairly investigate officer involved shootings.

WHY I AM RUNNING:

I am running for Sacramento County District Attorney because -- as a former Deputy and Supervising Deputy District Attorney, Assistant U.S. Attorney and Assistant County Public Defender during more than two decades -- I have the broadest range of experience of any of the candidates in this election. I am uniquely qualified to face today's public safety problems head on.

As a former Deputy and Supervising Deputy District Attorney and Assistant U.S. Attorney, I have personally prosecuted thousands of cases, including serious crimes involving murderers, child predators, sex and human traffickers, white collar criminals, and violent street gang members.

Because of my experience in both state and federal courts, I am in a position to know the areas where cooperation with federal authorities is likely to improve the public's safety in Sacramento County. No other candidate can make that claim.

After spending more than 13 years in the Sacramento District Attorney's Office, I know what policies work in a prosecutor's office. More significantly, I know what policies don't work.

I also know what changes need to be made in that Office to establish priorities necessary to ensure that the worst offenders are targeted for the limited space now available in the state prison system.

Justice is never a "one-size fits all" prospect. I will ensure the District Attorney's Office considers each individual case so that the worst offenders are singled out for the harshest punishment. I will set public safety priorities to protect all of our citizens.

For most of the past 20 years the impact of those decisions could be passed on to the state government. Sending local offenders to state prison placed the cost of housing and feeding them on the state - and away from the county.

Times have changed and the old approach will no longer work. "Realignment" laws mean that the counties now bear inmate housing and care costs.

Because the solution to this public safety crisis is going to require greater cooperation between the DA's Office and other local, state, and federal prosecuting agencies, I am uniquely qualified as a former prosecutor for Sacramento County, and U.S. Attorney's office.

As the next District Attorney, I will maintain, and improve public safety for all Sacramento County residents in this new, challenging public safety environment.

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