Libertarian from KC suburb would move here
Staff writer
Overland Park lawyer David Graham filed his affidavit of write-in candidacy for Marion County attorney Thursday.
Graham has practiced law since 1985.
He has worked as a prosecutor in Neosho, Harper, and Dickinson Counties. He also has worked on and off in private practice in Overland Park.
“I’ve been in private practice from April of 1987 pretty much through until now,” Graham said. “It’s a full-service law firm. My areas of interest are criminal defense and consumer defense.”
He said he found Marion County appealing because every community deserves to have a prosecutor. He was aware of current county attorney Joel Ensley’s decision not to run again for the office.
“Secondly, with all the tumult in the community, I think what will help is regular order,” Graham said. “I don’t plan to be controversial. I don’t have a plan to downplay things or play things up. I think what is needed is day-to-day stability.”
After learning that Ensey did not plan to run again, Graham began to study Marion County.
One thing he wants to do is help restore community respect for the law.
“I believe that respect for the law means people really believe that the justice system works for most people,” he said.
Graham said he planned to move here if elected.
“I’m looking for a place now and have some feelers out,” he said.
He doesn’t have set plans for pre-election appearances in Marion County, but he expects to be in the community from time to time before the election.
“If a group wants me to come speak to them in person, I’m more than willing to do that in person or by zoom,” he said.
Voter who want to talk to him before the election are welcome to call him at (913) 325-6596, he said.
Write-in candidates don’t declare party affiliations. Graham is a member of the Libertarian Party. He was the party’s nominee for U.S. Senate in 2022, capturing 2.9% of the vote in a race won by Jerry Moran, Republican.
“In general, I want to see punishment and reform,” Graham said. “I’m a big believer in diversion for first-time offenders and for restorative justice.”
With a property crime, he’s more interested in seeing the offender ordered to work and make payment to the victim of their crime.
“The jail’s only got so many beds, and the prison’s got so many beds,” he said.
An offender could be fined or jailed, he said, but what does that do for the crime victim?
He said domestic battery offenses were different from other offenses.
“I don’t think civilized people use violence as a first resort to solve conflicts,” he said. “I’m not saying I would approve a diversion for anyone on a domestic violence.”
When Ensey’s office was contacted to find out what Ensey’s plans are after his term expires in January, Ensey did not take the call.
“We are not making any statements on that at this time,” a staff member said.
Ensey didn’t file for re-election, but did make a pitch for a $43,000-a-year raise in May. Commissioners raised starting salary for the job to $94,500 and set the raise to go into effect Jan. 1.