Olathe - Johnson County District Attorney Paul Morrison announced today that he will switch parties and seek the Democratic nomination for Kansas attorney general next year.
Morrison, a Republican, hopes to challenge Republican Attorney General Phill Kline, who won the office three years ago and is expected to run again, although he has not officially announced his plans. No one else has announced plans to seek the office in 2006.
Morrison said he is running because he is “deeply concerned about the direction the attorney general’s office is headed,” and made it clear that he was upset with the way Kline has conducted himself in the office.
Morrison said the office has too often deviated from its core mission and has divided the people of Kansas. He made several references to professionalizing the office and not using it to promote partisan political issues.
Under Kline, who is anti-abortion, the office recently filed a lawsuit to block state-funded abortions under the Medicaid program, asking the court to declare that from conception, someone enjoys a fundamental right to life and liberty.
Also, the Kansas Supreme Court is considering whether Kline should be granted access to records from 90 patients at two abortion clinics, which Kline has said he needs to prosecute child rapes and possible illegal abortions.
Morrison said he supports abortion rights while also supporting restrictions already in Kansas law, such as parental notification.
Shallenburger noted that Morrison supported legislation in 2000 that led to the early release of people in prison because of probation or parole violations.
Morrison said he chose to run as a Democrat — despite warnings from some that it wasn’t the smartest political move in a largely Republican state — because he believes the Democratic Party is better focused on public safety issues.
Morrison, who has spent his 25-year legal career as a prosecutor, emphasized his law enforcement experience.
“As attorney general, I’ll insist we get that office back to the basics: safety, security and the kind of independent approach Kansans ought to be able to expect from the state’s chief law enforcement officer,” he said.
Kansas Democratic Chairman Larry Gates said the party was pleased with Morrison’s decision.
“As Democrats, we admire Paul’s independent approach to leadership, his dedication to public safety and public service, and his clear vision of what an effective attorney general ought to be,” Gates said in a written statement.
Senate Judiciary Chairman John Vratil said he believes a race between Kline and Morrison would be close. In 2002, Kline defeated then-Geary County Attorney Chris Biggs by fewer than 4,300 votes out of more than 821,000 cast.
“I think the attorney general’s vulnerable, and Paul Morrison is an outstanding candidate,” said Vratil, R-Leawood.
Opposition to Kline among some Republicans dates back to Kline’s service in the Kansas House, where he clashed frequently with GOP Gov. Bill Graves over social issues and fiscal policy.
Morrison announced his candidacy in a series of news conferences around the state, starting at the Johnson County Courthouse, where three years ago he won a death sentence for John E. Robinson Sr. for the killings of two young women whose bodies were found in barrels on Robinson’s Linn County farm. A Kansas jury convicted Robinson of a third killing, and he pleaded guilty to five murders in Missouri.
U.S. Rep. Dennis Moore, D-Kan., who attended the Olathe news conference, said Morrison “will make an outstanding attorney general.” Morrison worked as an assistant prosecutor under then-Johnson County District Attorney Moore in the 1980s.
Morrison has been Johnson County’s chief prosecutor for 16 years. He was most recently re-elected in 2004, meaning he wouldn’t face re-election for the district attorney’s office until 2008.
Other news conferences were scheduled for Topeka, Wichita and Pittsburg.
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Kudos to Morrison for making the switch. Perhaps he'll lead the way for many other moderates (like me) who have been thinking of doing the same. Close minded right wingers like the majority of the state school board and Doug Mays are only hurting the party. I'm voting for Morrison for sure.
How did a radio announcer get elected the chief lawyer of our state anyway? Nothing against radio announcers, but Kline would have actually practiced law if he had any talent. Hank Booth can vouch for the fact that there's no money in being a radio announcer.
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