LAS VEGAS -- One of three veteran attorneys will become Clark County's new district attorney. Each one of them brings different experiences and new plans for the top spot.
When David Roger walked away from the beginning of his third term as district attorney, it left a rare void at the top prosecutor's spot. Clark County picked three finalists to keep that job until 2014. They have just weeks to convince county leaders their plans are best for making the county safer.
Drew Christensen directs Clark County's Office of Appointed Counsel. If appointed to finish District Attorney David Roger's term, he says, he would spend taxpayer resources more wisely.
"Last year, there were approximately 80,000 bookings in the detention center, about 25,000 felony arrests. You can't have all those people. You have to look at alternative to how you prosecute cases. The previous administration was not involved in drug court, DUI court, veterans court," Christensen said.
Private attorney and former Clark County Democratic Party Chairman John Hunt wants to use his accounting experience to speed up child support payments.
"The District Attorney's office has a tremendous ability to persuade people to make payments. That's called pay or go to the Graybar motel. But the problem is they immediately pay but it's taking too long to deliver that money to children and the mothers who need it," said Hunt.
Private attorney and Las Vegas City Councilman Steve Wolfson says, that under David Roger, morale has never been so low. While declining to talk specific policy changes, he pledges to act on the changes recommended by those in the office he hopes to lead.
"Bring back a degree of professionalism in that office. I want people to want to come to work. I want people to feel good about their jobs," Wolfson said. "There's great people that work in the DA's office. I just want to do what I can to lift the morale back up to where it should be."
The public gets to weigh in on the three finalists at the Jan. 17 Clark County Commission meeting. A decision is expected the following week.
