Candidate Profile: Mary Knox for District Attorney
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SAN RAMON, CA — Mary Knox is one of two candidates running for Contra Costa District Attorney in the June 7 primary election. Knox is running against incumbent Diana Becton.
Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns. Below are Knox’s responses.
Age (as of Election Day)
61
Party Affiliation
Democrat
Family
My son, Darien, is a senior at the University of Denver
Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?
No
Education
B.A. – UCLA, J.D. – Pepperdine University School of Law
Occupation
Contra Costa County Deputy District Attorney – 37 years
Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office
N/A
Campaign website
MaryKnox4DA.com
Why are you seeking elective office?
To restore public safety to Contra Costa County
What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?
The current DA has never prosecuted a criminal case. I have spent my entire 37-year career prosecuting crime and protecting the rights of crime victims. I am a member of the state-wide California District Attorney’s Association, an organization that advocates for victims rights and public safety. The current DA is in an alliance with the DA of San Francisco, Chesa Boudin, and the DA of Los Angeles, George Gascon. They refer to themselves as the Prosecutors Alliance and advocate together for the dismantling of the criminal justice system.
If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency?)
The current DA has put policies in place that have, in effect, legalized the theft of merchandise and personal property with a value of less than $300 and required prosecutors to consider whether looters “needed” that thousands of dollars in merchandise taken in looting incidents. The current DA is not prosecuting drug possession which deprives addicts access to diversion programs and the drug treatment that they so desperately need to change the trajectory of their addiction.
The police can arrest people all day long but when the DA does not file charges, the message is sent to those committing crimes that there is no consequence or accountability. And, victims of crime are denied their constitutional rights to restitution and an opportunity to be heard in court.
What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?
I have spent my 37-year career in the DA’s office prosecuting cases in every criminal division of the office, I supervised the Homicide Unit, the Juvenile Unit and the Drug Unit. I created a new division in the DA’s Office, the Community Violence Reduction Unit, focused on reducing and preventing gang violence through complex wire tap investigations, as well as an education program in the middle schools focused on an anti-gang, anti-drug message to end multi-generational gang and drug involvement and improve outcomes in the lives of our children who are most at-risk to become involved in the criminal justice system.
To combat the gang-related freeway shootings on Hwy 80/4, I formed the Allied Freeway Agencies Task Force and obtained $3.5 in funding to bring an integrated system of ShotSpotter/pan-tilt zoom cameras/license plate readers to our freeways which dramatically reduced the freeway shootings within the coverage areas.
I was a member of the steering committee of the Youth Justice Initiative grant focused on reducing violence, suspensions and expulsions in middle schools by bringing Trauma Informed Response training to staff, Mindfulness and Niroga to the students in the classrooms and creating a Wellness Room.
The result was a significant reduction in expulsions and suspensions, keeping children in school and out of the juvenile justice system. As part of Executive Management, I participated in hiring and transfer decisions, the creation of office policy, and I was in charge of attorney and new prosecutor training. I have worked collaboratively with state agencies, federal law enforcement and regional law enforcement.
I have the endorsement of every law enforcement agency in Contra Costa County, as well as Sheriff Livingston, and will continue to work collaboratively with law enforcement which is essential to public safety.
The best advice ever shared with me was:
Truly listen to every voice around you.
What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
I believe that the duty of the District Attorney is not only to prosecute crime, it is to prevent crime. As crime disproportionately impacts disadvantaged communities, by reducing and preventing crime, we improve the lives of those who need it most.
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