Candidate for
District Attorney Public Administrator; County of Contra Costa

1. I will reorganize to save tax dollars; rein in excessive pensions; and allocate resources sensibly. No program will be funded until its effectiveness is reviewed.

2. I will always prosecute drunk drivers, methamphetamine users, spousal abusers, car thieves and shoplifters.

The District Attorney's Office made a surprising announcement earlier this year that it would stop prosecuting petty theft, drug possession and other misdemeanors - due to budget restraints. As District Attorney, I will FIND THE MONEY so we can continue to prosecute these crimes.

3. I will aggressively prosecute violent gang bangers.

In 2009, it is estimated that over one million gang members reside in the United States. The average gang member first joins a gang at the age of 12 ½. As District Attorney, I will not sit idly by while young gang members are injuring and killing each other and innocent bystanders. If elected, I will immediately step up and obtain CIVIL GANG INJUNCTIONS against all known violent gang members in Contra Costa County. (A gang injunction is a court-issued restraining order prohibiting gang members from participating in certain activities. It is based on the legal theory that gang activity constitutes a public nuisance that prevents non-gang members and ordinary residents from enjoying peace in their communities.) The City of Los Angeles, for example, currently has 65 gang injunctions covering 50 gangs and 11,000 gang members. L.A.'s 33% decline in gang membership is attributed to the use of gang injunctions. We need to institute them here.

4. I will fight for better tracking and conviction of child molesters and sex offenders who fail to register.

In 2008 I was in charge of the Sexual Assault Unit. I convicted a serial rapist and murderer who raped 7 women and murdered 2 women and escaped justice for 25 years. Currently, there is no one in the District Attorney's Office assigned to prosecuting released child molesters and sex offenders who don't register as required by law. (The Phillip Garrido case in Antioch illustrates how we need to make this a priority.) As District Attorney, I will find the money to assign a single prosecutor to prosecute convicted child molesters and rapists who fail to keep up their registration. I will also fight to require paroled sex offenders to wear electronic monitoring devices so we can keep better track of their whereabouts.

5. I will place importance on diverting youth from a life of drugs and crime - NOT trying to rehabilitate lifelong career criminals.

80% of all crime is committed by young people ranging in age from 14 to 25. According to the Surgeon General, one out of three 16 to 17 year olds in the U.S. reports participating in acts of serious violence. The single most important step we must take is to focus on diverting youth from a life of crime.

As your District Attorney, I will:

Research utilizing resources to focus on new programs to keep youth from committing crime. (For example, the Santa Clara DA's Office is involved in an interesting program called "Fresh Lifeline for Youth", where at-risk youth are taught the consequences of crime, coping skills, leadership training and each has a volunteer mentor.)

Create cost-effective diversion programs for young offenders to keep them from a life of crime. (For example, San Francisco has a program called "Changing the Odds" to prevent youth offenders from becoming adult offenders. First time youth offenders coming out of the juvenile justice system are placed in internship programs, receiving skills training and individual and group mentoring.)

Work directly with schools in Contra Costa County to identify problem kids before they commit violent crimes. We need to devise a plan to keep kids in school, recognizing that truant students are more likely to commit crimes than those who regularly attend class. Support funding to keep public safety officers in schools that need one to prevent school violence before it happens.

6. I will not accept the "good old boy", "business as usual" working environment that currently exists in the District Attorney's Office. I will work to change it.

If elected District Attorney, I will:

Make Deputy D.A.'s accountable with 6-month evaluations. Find resources to provide Deputy D.A.'s with regular training so that our prosecutors have the up-to-date tools they need to prosecute criminals.

Create a "system of promotion" that is based on competency and productivity + not on how many holes of golf attorneys play with their supervisors.

Reject the notion that we can't improve services and programs within stringent budget constraints. I will be creative and encourage prosecutors to do the same. As District Attorney, we will seek out every grant and resource to continue efficient prosecution of criminals. Devise a plan to decrease the time it takes to get DNA testing completed.

Encourage Deputy D.A.'s to take crime-fighting beyond their offices by devising an office-wide outreach program to local law enforcement and the Contra Costa County community.