Noooooo! Phill Kline as the Johnson County DA?

[atommom]

Are the folks in Johnson County shivering because of the sudden winter storm, or are they quaking because Attorney General Phill Kline could become their new district attorney?

Such a wild event may come to pass. Kline is indicating that he may be "open" to the idea of taking the soon-to-be vacated position of Johnson County DA. The position is open because current DA and newly minted Democrat, Paul Morrison, booted Kline from the AG's office in the Nov. 7 election.

Because Morrison won his previous DA post as a Republican, the choice of Morrison's successor has landed in the ample laps of the county Republican committee.

The Kansas City Star's KC Buzz Blog is reporting that Kline's spokeswoman says the AG is "keeping all his options open."

Of course, Kline's lack of legal experience may mean that he isn't even qualified, but speculation of a Kline-Morrison job swap has been going on since before the election. The speculation has been fueled by the fact that the new Johnson County GOP chair worked for Kline's campaign.

http://hopeandpolitics.blogspot.com/2006/11/kansas-wednesday-phill-kline-hints.html

[SheilaT]

1. Perhaps if the Republicans

appoint Kline DA despite his not being qualified for the job, the AG of the state could force his resignation. I believe that to be DA an attorney has to have been a practicing attorney for something like the previous three years, and Kline has never really been a practicing attorney, and his time as AG simply doesn't count.

One shudders to think just what kind of DA Kline would make. I suspect that there would be a great deal of turnover in the DA's office if Kline actually wound up in that job. I understand that there was a great deal of turnover in Topeka in the AG's office these past four years. I suspect that most attorneys in the DA's office could make much more money in private practice and would be highly desirable to local law firms.

[atommom]

2. That would be doubly humiliating for Phill...

to be soundly defeated by Morrisson, then forced out of his new job by Morrisson. :evilgrin: I agree that he really isn't qualified, and I think that if they try to put him into that job, they'll lose their tenuous "republican unity" again. He was very divisive as AG, and they certainly don't need any more of that now.

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. He isn't eligible

This question came up at the most recent Jo Co Dems meeting and Bill Roy said he doesn't have enough experience as a practicing attorney. Apparently, the requirements for Jo Co DA are stiffer than for state AG.

The pay is also better, so Paul Morrison is taking a cut.

[atommom]

4. I thought it was ridiculous that he got the job of AG at all,

and not just because he's a wingnut. As attorneys go, he doesn't have much of a record. I would like to see him stay out of politics, but I'm afraid he won't be going away as quickly as I'd like.

[SheilaT]

5. I understand that

the AG's office will be very eager to be hiring but can't expect a lot of staff to come over from Johnson County since the county pays more than the state. Somewhat scary, that.