Letters

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Written by: Philip Murphy

Published: 22 May 2018

I got a bit of a chuckle out of reading Deb Baumann’s (whom I agree with on 95 percent of the issues) letter regarding the May 14 DA’s race debate, as I began to wonder if we had indeed attended the same event.

Baumann suggests that Susan Krones’ opponent Steven Brown had tried to inflate his resume, when it seemed clear that Krones had used some very fuzzy math to guesstimate the number of cases she had handled as a deputy district attorney.

Baumann next claimed that being a longtime resident of Lake County (as Mr. Brown has been) was a disadvantage and not something to brag about, but she seems to have missed the part where Mr. Brown stated he had gotten a degree from Penn State and had worked in Sonoma County as an attorney, and the mentioning of his background was only briefly touched on in his opening remarks.

The next aspect of Mr. Brown’s performance Ms. Baumann took issue with was that he had stated that rape was oftentimes a difficult crime to prosecute, which doesn’t seem too off-base as there are usually no witnesses and the persons involved oftentimes know each other – meaning it comes down to who’s story do you believe as to whether it was consensual.

But it wasn’t so much what Ms. Baumann found wrong with Mr. Brown that bewildered me as much as the the lack of concern over something Susan Krones had said about “overcharging” defendants, because of her hope to send them to state prison, in order to reduce the problem of overcrowding at the county jail.

Mr. Brown replied that issue was the sheriff’s problem, which I found reassuring as it seems extremely unethical to me to base charging decisions on the county’s finances and not on the law or fairness; in fact, it seems like prosecutorial misconduct to make such a statement and I can imagine defense attorneys using it against her in court.

But the statement meant more than that to me, as it brought a bad memory from 13 years ago back into sharp focus, as I had interviewed Susan Krones for a published account of a case she had handled that I had written. The case involved a 45-year-old man with serious mental health issues, whom I believed was sent to state prison for exactly that reason – to save the county some money.

He had been labeled a sex offender many years prior due to a bizarre incident that occurred while extremely intoxicated, a case which was of very dubious merit to start with, and his current charge was failure to register as a sex offender in spite of no less than four attempts to do so at local law enforcement agencies. In fact, the situation was so absurd that the regulations changed as a result of this case, so they can no longer tell people to come back later when they are less busy.

The combination of unfairness and seeming total lack of compassion for this man really shook me, and the thought of a severely mentally ill, 145-pound, 5-foot, 8-inch-tall middle-aged man of mixed race going to state prison for a reason beyond his control seemed downright cruel.

These are not attributes I want to see in a DA, and I believe that if Ms. Baumann dug into the background of the candidates a bit more she would agree with me that Mr. Brown is a better choice for our next DA.

Phil Murphy lives in Finley, Calif.

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Written by: Kathleen Morgen

Published: 21 May 2018

As a longtime Hidden Valley Lake resident, I support Susan Krones for district attorney.

It is essential that we have someone with her level of experience in the critical role of district attorney. Susan’s 25 years in the Lake County District Attorney’s Office, including 11 years as senior deputy district attorney, give her a real-world perspective and hands-on experience that her opponent can’t begin to match.

Susan’s personal mission goes far beyond being tough on crime. Her experience as an attorney for the US Army Judge Advocate General has given her insight into issues impacting veterans in Lake County and other at risk populations within our community.

Susan has voiced her commitment to advocate for a dedicated court for those struggling with mental health challenges. I believe that this demonstrates a willingness to look beyond simplistic “crime fighting” strategies in an effort to make meaningful and permanent improvements in the lives of the community’s most vulnerable members.

I urge others who care about the future of Lake County to join me on June 5 and vote for Susan Krones for district attorney.

Kathleen Morgen lives in Hidden Valley Lake, Calif.

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Written by: Deb Baumann

Published: 20 May 2018

Monday evening's debate between district attorney candidates Susan Krones and Steve Brown was instructive. I thought it was clear that Krones is eminently qualified for the job, while Brown is not qualified.

My respect for Krones increased because she lacks the glitter and glam of a professional politician. I sense a natural humility that makes grandstanding uncomfortable for her. Her authenticity of demeanor charmed me.

Krones is so eminently qualified (25 years in the local DA office, prior experience as a US Army judge advocate general attorney, a quality education from a well-respected law school, and over 100 jury trials under her belt), that someone listening to her opponent, Brown, brashly inflate his thin resume might wonder what makes such an inexperienced person feel entitled to take over the DA office as boss.

Perhaps the explanation was in his opening remarks: “My family has been in Lake County for five generations.”

He spoke as if this announcement warranted admiration, but he lost me there. (Yes, he lost me even before he said rape is difficult to prosecute because there are no witnesses, or that the reason he has no jury trial experience is because he has been so amazingly awesome at avoiding jury trials … Even before he made it clear he either does not understand the real concerns of "conflict of interest" – or he thinks we voters don't understand the concept.)

I wasn't raised in one zip code, myself. I was a military brat. Every few years, my family moved to a new place. Every few years, we kids were yanked out of familiar waters and tossed into the deep end of a strange new pool, to sink or swim! We learned new ways, made new friends, and adapted. As an adult, I can usually sense when I meet another military brat. Confidence, character-strength, resilience and adaptability are hallmarks of that nomadic upbringing. We learned to make our own way in the world.

I'm not saying that adults living within the protection zone of their family’s sphere of influence is a bad thing … but neither is it laudable. It is just a choice.  

Twelve years ago, I made the choice to move to Lake County. I have come to love this place. At the same time, as someone who has travelled the world and experienced many different places, I see opportunity for this county to improve.

With a mere 25 years' residency, Susan Krones can also be considered a newcomer. Lake County will benefit from her experienced yet objective outlook, focused on a system that has been entrenched in old ways for too long. She can help make this a better place for everyone – for those who have been here for generations, and for those who moved here recently.

All should be equal, in the eyes of the law.  

I am confident that District Attorney Susan Krones will create an environment of careful, intelligent, skilled, ethical jurisprudence for all in Lake County.

Deb Baumann lives in Upper Lake, Calif.