Choosing new DA is just a vote away

[Jon8503]

However, if Phill Kline officially becomes a candidate, the pre-vote stakes could change.

By JIM SULLINGER
The Kansas City Star
DA race: Summing up the case

It’s the political mystery of the year in Johnson County: Will Attorney General Phill Kline switch jobs with Paul Morrison and become the county’s next district attorney?

We’ll know tonight when more than 600 GOP precinct leaders meet in Lenexa to choose among four candidates for the job, which Morrison leaves next month.

Three have officially declared their candidacy: Rick Guinn and Steve Howe, who both work in the district attorney’s office, and defense attorney Scott Hattrup.

Kline, who lost his re-election bid last month to Morrison, is the fourth and undeclared candidate. He has spent the last couple of weeks, however, trying to line up votes for a possible bid. His potential entry has turned what might have been a ho-hum selection into the hottest topic in Kansas politics.

If Kline officially enters the race today, it will force a major decision by one of the other candidates — Hattrup. He would appeal to the same precinct voters as Kline, and said he would decide today whether to support or oppose Kline if he enters the race.

“I have worked with Phill Kline before, and I have supported him before, but I have some concerns about whether he’d be electable in two years,” Hattrup said.

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TODAY’S CONVENTION

•7 p.m. at the Westside Family Church, 8500 Woodsonia Drive.

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascitystar/news/politics/16211592.htm

[atommom]

1. Phill Kline would be a bad choice for everyone.

Bad for the Johnson Countians who would have to deal with having such an inexperienced and political DA, and bad for the Republican party itself. Steve Rose actually wrote a good article on this recently, describing all the qualifications Kline should have, and doesn't.

It would really be nice if Phill Kline would not jump into the race for Johnson County district attorney, not because he might not win a majority of the precinct votes, but because he would know that he is way, way underqualified.

This would be a tough call for the Energizer Bunny. Phill Kline sees a race he might win, and he immediately sizes up the political calculus. He wants so much to be in the race. He wants so much to win. He wants so much to have a high-paying job.

On the basis of pure mathematics, it is possible Kline could make the final cut on Dec.11 to fill the final two years of the term vacated by our new Kansas attorney general, Paul Morrison. There are 360 Johnson County Republican conservatives at the precinct level and 280 moderates. If the conservatives want Kline, he wins.

But do they really want Phill Kline? And does Phill Kline really want this job - besides its tempting $143,225 a year salary?

The answer for both should be - gracious, no.

http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=1459&dept_id=155743&newsid=17558668&PAG=461&rfi=9

[Jon8503]

2. I thought he lost in Johnson County like 60 some % to 20 some % to

Morrison like big time. Can't see the republican party putting him in there. I think he is in for another loss if he tries this.

[Mabus]

3. Thanks for the early warning Jon8503

I had heard rumors but to actually see this come to pass makes me glad I don't live in JoCo.

I wonder if this is a signal that the GOP still doesn't yet understand that their radical, hate-filled agenda isn't reaching people. Shallenberger will step down next month as the chair but it really doesn't look like they have learned anything. While that's bad for them, it could signal a continuing bright future for the Democratic party in Kansas.

[atommom]

4. I think you're right. They still don't have a clue that most people

don't like their beliefs or their tactics. The level of arrogance here is amazing. At this rate, the Dems should be able to scoop up a lot of disenchanted moderate Repubs at the next election.

[Mabus]

5. Well stated

And they claim we're the ones out of touch. :rofl:

Well, if they want to commit political suicide, I say, let them.