Go to: Candidate Q&A home page • Denver Post Voter Guide
Karen Breslin Dem
Residence: Elizabeth
Profession: Professor and lawyer
Education: B.A., M.A., J.D.
Experience: Instructor and professor of political science – 30 years
Program manager, senior policy advisor, National Park Service – 25 years
Lawyer in private practice – 18 years
What are your top three priorities, if elected?
1) strategies to reduce violent crime – especially among youth, including early intervention emphasizing conflict resolution and measures to reduce gun violence
2) strategies to reduce incarceration of those with substance abuse and mental health issues that are non-violent offenders
3) monitor racial disparities in prosecution and create a conviction integrity unit
What role should incarceration play in public safety? And under what circumstances should people convicted of nonviolent crimes be sentenced to jail or prison?
Depends on the severity of the crime and associated circumstances. Every effort should be made to reduce incarceration in Colorado as it is costly, around $50,000 a year per prisoner, and harms children who are at greater risk of substance abuse if they have an incarcerated parent. It is also a poor tool for dealing with mental health and substance abuse-related crime. There are also racial disparities that must be addressed. Incarceration is an important tool of justice and may be appropriate for repeat offenders as non-violent crime can impair a community’s quality of life.
Recent studies have shown persistent racial disparities in Colorado’s justice system. What specific steps would you take to ensure people of all races are prosecuted equally?
Establishment of a unit to track prosecutions and convictions by race, investigation into the causes of racial disparities, i.e., implicit bias, income inequality, policing practices, etc. Persistent wealth gaps between whites and people of color likely contribute to racial disparities and need to be accounted for, for example, making posting of bond more difficult, or residing in lower-income neighborhoods that experience more policing. Use of a racial justice advisory committee composed of members from affected communities, law enforcement and the DA’s office, might also be necessary to develop appropriate responses, along with consideration of best practices in other jurisdictions.
After the discovery of widespread misconduct by a longtime DNA scientist at the CBI, will you proactively review cases in your district for wrongful convictions? If not, why?
I would establish a conviction integrity unit to review prior convictions, especially those affected by known misconduct.
George Brauchler Rep
Residence: Castle Rock
Profession: Attorney
Education: JD: Law CU-Boulder College of Law; CU-Boulder BA: Economics and Poli Sci; MA: Strategic Studies US Army War College
Experience: Elected DA for 18th JD (2013-2021), 3-year trial attorney, prosecuted Columbine, Aurora Theater, STEM mass shooting cases. Army Colonel, Iraq vet, military judge.
Campaign website
What are your top three priorities, if elected?
First, launching the first new DA’s office in more than 60 years will be an ongoing effort requiring leadership, experience, teamwork, and community support. I have already met with nearly every sheriff and chief of police within the 23rd, the former DA, members of the current and future DA’s office, the head public defender and the chief judge.
Second, I intend to further develop the office’s reputation for preventing and protecting victims, aggressively pursuing justice for violent and repeat offenders, and rehabilitation opportunities and incentive to pursue them for first-time offenders of most non-violent crimes.
Third, we will continue to be the most transparent DA’s office in Colorado.
What role should incarceration play in public safety? And under what circumstances should people convicted of nonviolent crimes be sentenced to jail or prison?
Colorado law lists punishment as the first purpose of criminal sentencing. For violent offenders, incarceration serves the first purpose of government–to protect society. In Colorado, our sentencing system is broken. There is no truth in sentencing. No predictability. No certainty. No timeliness of punishment. We have also seen the negative effects of coddling repeat offenders, like thieves and other property criminals. Sentences for property criminals are too unlikely, too untimely, and when imposed—too long. We need to send the message that if you steal from us—if you victimize us—you should expect to go to jail.
Recent studies have shown persistent racial disparities in Colorado’s justice system. What specific steps would you take to ensure people of all races are prosecuted equally?
Based on recent and accurate data indicating that no such persistent racial disparity exists, I disagree with the premise of the question. However, this issue is of great importance to me. I was the first DA to post the details and demographics of every indivdual sent to prison in our jurisdiction on our website. Additionally, I was a regular member and attendee of the Aurora Key Community Response Team where we discussed issues of race and law enforcement. I recruited the National Black Prosecutors Association to hold their annual conference in Aurora for the first time ever. I intend to continue that commitment.
After the discovery of widespread misconduct by a longtime DNA scientist at the CBI, will you proactively review cases in your district for wrongful convictions? If not, why?
Even before there was an issue with CBI, I established the first-ever Conviction Review Unit in the 18th JD. We had notices posted in every library of every prison in Colorado on how to contact us with claims of actual innocence. We reviewed them all. Independent of the outcome of the CBI DNA review process currently underway, I will always review cases where actual innocence is at issue. I will not limit our office to just reviewing cases involving DNA.
How candidate order was determined: A lot drawing was held at the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office on Aug. 7, 2024, to determine the general election ballot order for major and minor party candidates for U.S. House, State Board of Education, CU Regent, State Senate, State House, and District Attorney races. Colorado law (1-5-404, C.R.S.) requires that candidates are ordered on the ballot in three tiers: major party candidates followed by minor party candidates followed by unaffiliated candidates. Within each tier, the candidates are ordered by a lot drawing with the exception of the President and Vice President race, which is ordered by the last name of the presidential candidate. Questionnaires were not sent to write-in candidates.
Stay up-to-date with Colorado Politics by signing up for our weekly newsletter, The Spot.
How candidate order was determined: A lot drawing was held at the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office on Aug. 7, 2024, to determine the general election ballot order for major and minor party candidates for U.S. House, State Board of Education, CU Regent, State Senate, State House, and District Attorney races. Colorado law (1-5-404, C.R.S.) requires that candidates are ordered on the ballot in three tiers: major party candidates followed by minor party candidates followed by unaffiliated candidates. Within each tier, the candidates are ordered by a lot drawing with the exception of the President and Vice President race, which is ordered by the last name of the presidential candidate. Questionnaires were not sent to write-in candidates.
Stay up-to-date with Colorado Politics by signing up for our weekly newsletter, The Spot.
Originally Published:
