County Attorney race - Ty Kaufman
By file photo
County Attorney candidate Ty Kaufman
The McPherson Sentinel
Tue Jul 29, 2008, 03:24 PM CDT
McPherson County -
Tell us about yourself.
I am a native of Moundridge and a graduate of Bethany College, Lindsborg. I graduated from Washburn University School of Law and served as a lawyer with the Judge Advocate General Corps (JAG) in the Kansas Air National Guard. I have served as the McPherson County Attorney since 1985. I am married with two children.
What qualities do you feel you would bring to the office of County Attorney?
I am a career prosecutor. Since becoming McPherson County Attorney in 1985, I have brought innovation to the prosecutor’s office. In 1991, I was the first prosecutor in the U.S. to institute the idea of a DNA Warrant, which identifies a defendant by his DNA profile even when his name is not known. The DNA Warrant has since been copied and used successfully nationwide.
I truly care about crime victims. In 1999, the Kansas Attorney General named me the Outstanding Prosecutor of the year for my commitment to victims of crime. I continue to promote strong policies to help crime victims.
What have you accomplished in your previous terms in office?
I have established a streamlined and efficient prosecutor’s office with experienced staff that keep criminal cases moving through the court system. In the courtroom, my Assistant County Attorneys are on time, efficient and prepared. We have remained on the cutting edge of new prosecution techniques and constantly update our practices to use the latest innovations both inside and out of the courtroom.
We are not afraid to try difficult cases. I have tried every kind and class of criminal case, from misdemeanors to first-degree murder to more than 200 jury trials and more than 85 appeals in the Kansas Court of Appeals and Supreme Court. We have been highly successful at the appellate level and I have been credited with many appellate decisions with state-wide impact.
What makes you the better candidate?
I have maintained and pledge to continue a no-nonsense approach to criminal prosecution. I have rejected calls to water down the prosecution of crime with panaceas of expanded diversion, roll-over plea-bargaining and “innovative” methods of dealing with crime that are better left to social service agencies. Under my leadership, my office has a strong work ethic that starts at the top. My No. 1 goal is to use the power of the office of the County Attorney to make the communities of McPherson County safe and secure.
How well do you work with offices surrounding and related to yours?
My office has the full support of area law enforcement agencies and we work closely with officers from all agencies to assure that each case gets full and complete attention. Our office provides training to area law enforcement agencies that covers changes in the law and other criminal matters. This kind of training promotes knowledgeable criminal investigation and successful prosecution.
We also work closely with social service agencies if court action is needed for the protection of children.
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