RACHEL TOWNSEND
Age: 40
City of residence: Kansas City
Previous positions held: Lee’s Summit city prosecutor for the past 10 years; Boone County assistant prosecutor for nearly four years; prior to that, served as the deputy general counsel for the Missouri Department of Corrections and as a hearing officer with the Missouri Department of Social Services
Degrees: Bachelor’s Degree in English from the University of Missouri/Columbia 1989; Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri-Columbia 1992
Endorsements: None sought
JAMES F. KANATZAR
Age: 41
City of residence: Kansas City
Previous positions held: Jackson County prosecuting attorney, Jackson County deputy prosecuting attorney, Armstrong Teasdale – attorney, chief trial assistant Jackson County – Independence, Chief Warrant Officer Jackson County – Independence, Jackson County Drug Task Force liaison and trial attorney.
Degrees: Creighton University, Omaha, Neb. 1989, B.A. Political Science University of Missouri-Kansas City, 1992, Juris Doctor
Endorsements: Fraternal Order of Police,Freedom Inc.,La Raza, Kansas City, Pride Democratic Club,Committee for County Progress,Greater Kansas City Women’s Political Caucus, Lee’s Summit Democratic Club, Raytown Democratic Association, Four Freedoms Democratic Club, Shamrock Democratic Club, Old Northeast Democrats, Carpenters’ District Council, Greater Kansas City AFL-CIO, Greater Kansas City Building and Trades Council, International Association of Fire Fighters-Local 42, International Association of Fire Fighters-Local 3808, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers-Local 124, Ironworkers-Local 10, Plumbers-Local 8, Pipefitters-Local 533, Teamsters-Local 41,Teamsters-Local 541,Teamsters-Local 838,Transport Workers-Local 530, Heavy Constructors Association of Greater Kansas City,Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon,Alvin Brooks-Ad Hoc Group Against Crime, Michael D. Sanders-Jackson County Executive, Dennis Waits-Chairman Jackson County Legislature
1 Why do you want to be the county prosecutor?
TOWNSEND: I have been in public service nearly my entire professional career. I am a 14-year career prosecutor at both the state and local level, and I possess the requisite skills and abilities to effectively manage the office.
KANATZAR: I have dedicated 15 years of my career to this prosecutor’s office, holding virtually every position and trying every type of case. I want to continue as prosecutor because of the importance it holds to me personally as an attorney and a citizen in this community.
2 What is the No. 1 need of the county prosecutor’s office?
TOWNSEND: The prosecutor’s office needs more funding to adequately accomplish its goal of public safety. Prosecutors need pay raises. The prosecutor’s office should fund a community outreach program, similar to one that was established by Claire McCaskill.
KANATZAR: It is critically important to make certain the prosecutor’s office has the resources it needs to protect our community. My staff is increasingly prosecuting cases with complex DNA evidence. While we are fortunate to have this technology, it has and will continue to increase the cost of prosecuting crime and the level of expertise needed in our attorneys.
3 What can you do as a prosecutor to address rising crime rates?
TOWNSEND:There are different ways to address different crimes. When it comes to violent crimes, I am a strict prosecutor, and I will incarcerate these offenders. COMBAT must be audited to insure that adequate money is given to law enforcement to effect the detection and apprehension of drug offenders. There is some question among law enforcement that these funds are not being properly allocated.
KANATZAR: We must continue to aggressively prosecute those who commit crimes. Incarceration is an important tool in reducing crime. We must also pursue innovative crime prevention initiatives through COMBAT-funded programs to address the causes of crime such as substance abuse, anger management, employment and education.
4 If elected, what things would be at the top of your priority list?
TOWNSEND: I would re-open the investigation of Caleb Horner. I would take the Erica Green case from Tim Dollar and re-assign it to myself and a full-time assistant prosecutor who works in the office. Third, I would establish written ethical protocols for the office, and aggressively identify conflicts of interests and eliminate them.
KANATZAR: The reduction of violent crime is my top priority. We also need to expand Jackson County’s detention facility. Our detention facility is designed to house 800 inmates and we are constantly over capacity. This compromises our ability to effectively protect our community from property crime. We must have detention space that fits our needs in order to impact the property crime rates in Jackson County.
5 Why should someone vote of you instead of your opponent?
TOWNSEND: I am a fourteen-year career prosecutor, and I am well-respected in the community. My ethical standards are high. I am not part of the established Jackson County political “machine;” as such, I am not beholden to their special interests.
KANATZAR: I am the only candidate with the trial and management experience to lead the largest office in the state. I am a lifetime state prosecutor, having spent my career prosecuting violent crime including murders. My opponent has never worked in this office. It is critical to have worked in this office in order to be the elected prosecutor.
