Douglas County DA seeks re-election, faces opposition for first time in 16 years
Charles Branson is seeking a fifth term as Douglas County’s district attorney, his campaign announced Tuesday.
“No office in this state has made greater strides in advancing fair and equitable justice for its community,” Branson said in a news release announcing his candidacy. “The women and men of the district attorney’s office have dedicated themselves to protecting our community and creating innovative ways to keep our community safe.”
Branson, who has faced criticism for his treatment of women reporting sexual assaults, is facing opposition for the first time since he was elected in 2004.
He is the third Democrat to enter the race, following defense attorney Cooper Overstreet and University of Kansas law professor Suzanne Valdez.
No Republicans have filed to run for the position.
In a news release announcing his candidacy Tuesday, Branson highlighted the creation of behavioral health court, his decision to stop prosecution on simple marijuana possession charges and the institution of office-wide unconscious bias training.
He also announced that his office became a member of the Government Alliance on Race and Equity aimed at evaluating programs with a focus on integrating racial equity into decision making.
The release said Branson plans to create restorative justice program aimed at bringing offenders victims and the community together to repair the harm caused by the offender.
Branson’s office has undergone changes after The Star reported last year that prosecutors filed and then dropped false report charges against three women who reported sexual assault or domestic violence. A Star investigation showed that he had filed more such cases in recent years than similarly situated jurisdictions.
In February, Branson announced changes, saying his office hired a national expert to create a comprehensive training program and help develop policy for investigating and prosecuting sexual assault.
In previous statements to The Star, Branson called the criticism against his office “misdirected, shortsighted and uninformed.”
This story was originally published April 28, 2020 at 1:46 PM.
