"I will ensure that both public safety and human dignity prevail to create a city steeped in justice."
Photo by Pieter van de Sande on Unsplash
Dear Denver,
We are at a pivotal moment in our beloved city. As the election for District Attorney nears, our campaign is focused on big change and practical solutions to turn our city around.
After 25 years prosecuting the hardest cases in the district attorney’s office, I now serve in the Governor’s administration as Director of the largest behavioral health state agency, focused on transforming how mental health services are delivered to those who are arrested.
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We can offer our community real accountability, keeping the worst offenders and recidivists behind bars. We can throw the book at gun crimes, and actually prosecute auto theft.
At the same time, we can implement community prosecution, where we bring in community leaders, faith leaders, educators, business owners and parents to ensure their voice is at the table to respond to crime effectively.
And, we can build real pathways to treatment for the thousands of people every year who are addicted to drugs, severely mentally ill, or just experiencing persistent painful homelessness, and become criminally-justice involved. It is cheaper, it is more equitable, and it is more humane to offer treatment and accountability than continue what we do now, which is to ignore the problem.
In every office I have been in, I have listened, learned and led. I started one of the country’s first human trafficking units in a district attorney’s office and created specialized units focusing on helping victims. In my current role, I have helped start supportive housing opportunities for people with severe mental illness and worked on legislation to help direct people suffering into treatment and out of jail. I’ve seen change take place in the DAs offices that I have been a part of and helped lead. I have the experience to know what works and what does not. I have seen change take place around the country when innovative prosecutors decide that doing the same thing over and over isn’t good enough. Denver deserves a district attorney with real experience who knows how to implement change. Accountability, safety, community engagement and compassionate change are all part of my plan.
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Together, we can make Denver safer for everyone.
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With gratitude,
Leora
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