KANSAS: GOP DISTRICT ATTORNEY SWITCHES PARTIES, WILL CHALLENGE PHILL KLINE FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL

by RBH
Tue Oct 25, 2005 at 09:08:54 AM PDT

Apparently The Phill has went a bit far and he's going to be challenged in 2006.

Source

Johnson County District Attorney Paul Morrison announced Tuesday 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.

* RBH's diary :: ::
*

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.

"I pledge to you to uphold the laws of the state for everyone," he said. "I will not pursue a narrow agenda that benefits just a few."

What will this mean?

For one thing, Kline will have some serious competition here. Morrison is also from the general area that Phill is from (The Kansas side of the KC area).

Kline, for the uninformed, has done such things as trying to get lists of women who have had abortions so he could check lists for girls who are under 18.

Basically, he's one of the more conservative people in Kansas.

Morrison choosing to swerve past the bi-annual "Traditional Republican v. Fundy Right-Winger" ritual puts him in a good position. With enough votes from dissenting Republicans, a Democrat can win election in Kansas.

So, why did DA Morrison join the Democratic Party?

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.

Mr. Morrison, Welcome to the Party! (and we have enough room for any other Republicans who are sick of their party's leadership)

EDIT (10:20AM CDT):

The KSGOP highlights Kline's odyessy to stop abuse by finding out which girls got abortions. But never mind the fact that more young girls will give birth than have abortions. Kline doesn't need to look into that, it wouldn't advance his agenda.

The office of Attorney General, in an ideal world, is supposed to be apolitical, and Paul Morrison is a heck of a choice to be an apolitical Attorney General. He's been the DA of Johnson county for over a decade.




11 Comments:



I blame Howard Dean

For leading the Democrat Party off the cliff with his loony left ... um, wait. Sorry, I accidentally fed the July RNC talking points into my prompter.




Tim Shallenburgertron 5000 says

"But the Democrats are doooomed!"

"Our country right or wrong. When right, to be kept right; when wrong, to be put right" - Carl Schurz

by RBH on Tue Oct 25, 2005 at 09:13:41 AM PDT




WoooHoooo!!!!

Talk about a tough move! Talk about a significant watershed!

I've been waiting for a trend of people shifting to the democrats ever since Phil Graham switched to the Republican party back in the early 80's. For the last 25 years the trend has been for Democrats to switch to the Republican party. If a PROSECUTOR is willing to switch to be a DEMOCRAT in KANSAS, this may be the writing on the wall.

It is becoming unhealthy for a politician's career to remain a moderate republican. Previously, they just got more conservative. They can't do that any more. They have to come to US! Woo Hooo! And they see it as a politically smart move to do so.

Mark my keystrokes, folks. This is the beginning of many, many folks who will do so over the next couple of years. Most of them viable politicians in their own right, who don't want to be associated with the republcian brand.

I like to think of the Republican Party as an Iceberg--large, white, cold-hearted, not too swift, and can't change direction.





My thoughts exactly

There must be a large body of ambitious, moderate Republicans who can see no future for themselves in the wing-nut party. They are ripe for recruitment by Democrats. I hope that there is some effort in the Democratic Party to lure some of these Republicans over. That should be an important part of any 50-state strategy we are developing.





Yea

it's easier to recruit a succesful politician than to build one from scratch.

Now, I don't want to hear screams of protest from the ideologically pure section of the party. I count myself as a democrat only because they stand in opposition to the republican party. If I had my druthers, my party would have strong positions on labor, health care, environmental and energy issues, anti-trust policies, personal bankruptcy and the Iraq war. They don't. But at least they're not the republican cronies. Faint praise, indeed--but critical none the less.

I like to think of the Republican Party as an Iceberg--large, white, cold-hearted, not too swift, and can't change direction.






Tips

Sure.. it's either this, or posting in C&J

"Our country right or wrong. When right, to be kept right; when wrong, to be put right" - Carl Schurz

by RBH on Tue Oct 25, 2005 at 09:14:02 AM PDT




Thanks for the Story RBH

I am slowly learning more and more about Kansas Politics.

One thing people tend to forget is that even though Kansas is considered deeply "red", National republican usually only win with 60% of the vote. All we need to do is convince 1 out of 10 that there is no Moderate republican party left in Kansas and bring them to the side of fiscally responsible, socially reasonable Democrats, and we win there.

Midwest Center for American Values - Progressive ideas in an easy to swallow pill.





Thank you, Mr. Morrison

Thank you, Mr. Morrison, for giving us an option other than Phil Kline. Now if we could get more rational Republicans/Democarats to run for Kansas Board of Education, the horizon would be brighter still!





CONTACT him

We all should send him a note of appreciation and support. Whats his email address and contact number? Could not locate it easily on his website.





Another article

from the KC Star:

The prospect of Morrison's entry into the attorney general's race caught many politicians by surprise.

Running as a Democrat was even more surprising.

"I'm trying to think of when I've heard of something like this," said Kevin Yowell, an Overland Park political consultant. "I don't know that I've ever heard of this around here. It's not uncommon for a Democrat to switch to Republican. But for an entrenched officeholder to leave the GOP to become a Democrat, I am just stunned."

(..)

Morrison, 51, joined the district attorney's office shortly after graduating from the Washburn University School of Law in 1980. He was an assistant district attorney under Dennis Moore until 1989, when Morrison took over the top spot. Moore, a Democrat, is now a U.S. congressman.

Morrison was unopposed in his 2004 re-election bid. He would not be up for re-election until 2008.

Morrison was born in Dodge City and grew up in Hays, Plainville, Bonner Springs and Kansas City, Kan. He graduated from Washington High School in Kansas City, Kan. He and his wife, Joyce Morrison, live in Lenexa and are instructors in a marriage preparation program at the Catholic church they attend in Shawnee.

Morrison has prosecuted many of the county's high-profile murder cases, including those against Richard Grissom Jr., Debora Green and John E. Robinson Sr. In the 1980s, he headed the county's narcotics prosecution and became a regional authority on drug prosecution.

Morrison was an original member of the Kansas Sentencing Commission and is currently its vice chairman. He is an associate member of the VERA Institute, a public policy group that promotes sentencing reform.

"Our country right or wrong. When right, to be kept right; when wrong, to be put right" - Carl Schurz

by RBH on Tue Oct 25, 2005 at 09:25:02 AM PDT




Excellent news.

Paul Morrison is a very good attorney. Unlike Phill Kline, Mr. Morrison has spent the last 20 years being an attorney, following the law, and understanding where we need help. We need someone who will put the "attorney" back in the Attorney General's office, and I'm thrilled with this news. I predict Mr. Morrison will win handily. Most Kansans realize that Phill Kline is a joke.



http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/10/25/11854/337

I don't know Paul Morrison, but I recognized him yesterday when I was in Overland Park. He was getting out of a vehicle.

I will say this. He has a sterling reputation as a crime fighter and already Kansans I have spoken with say he should win this race. We are embarrassed to have radical wingnut Phill Kline, publicity hound deluxe, serve as a representative of our state and present his warped view of Kansas to the nation.

A comment to rox, who said "States don't get much redder than Kansas." Please, knock it off (not just you, but lots of other people here too) and stop being so hard on us. Kansas is going to start surprising people soon and paying back the imbecile who wrote the dumb book that everyone loves about Kansas and leads to all you folks giving us the he-haws. (I have a Kansas address as well as a Missouri address, by the way, so I really do live in two states.)

Note this: Kansas has a DEMOCRATIC governor, and if any female is elected president during my lifetime, it will be this one.

Back on Paul Morrison, or rather to the topic of a former campaign manager for Paul Morrison who I will not name at this point. This former campaign manager is one of my favorite friends and is a Republican who I have asked many a time why he is not a Democrat because he thinks like a Dem, acts like a Dem exept in one area only, talks like a Dem, and wants me to join his campaign if he runs for office and I finally had to say yes after he did me a major favor (he's done plenty of minor favors for me too). Perhaps he will soon switch his party affiliation and that is my hope. I trust this person so much that I have named him as the executor of my will. So since Paul Morrison once chose him as campaign manager, Paul Morrison has got to be way cool and probably always a Democrat at heart as well.

Paul Morrison switched. This has never happened before? Oh yes it has. Please check out the story of Ray Nagin, mayor of New Orleans, once a Republican, became a Democrat and thus was elected mayor, and now is fighting for his city and his people and is a person I greatly admire for his guts and his charisma and his fighting spirit. I am glad he is on our side now.

And now we have Paul Morrison, future star of Kansas. Always a Democrat at heart but I guess he just didn't realize it until now.

www.kansascity.com

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/n...al/12988949.htm

POLITICAL SURPRISE BREWS IN KANSAS

MORRISON POISED TO SWITCH PARTIES TO CHALLENGE KLINE

By JIM SULLINGER and DIANE CARROLL
The Kansas City Star
Posted on Tue, Oct. 25, 2005

Paul Morrison, Johnson County’s Republican district attorney for the last 16 years, is expected to announce today that he is a candidate for Kansas attorney general.

Morrison will switch parties and run as a Democrat, according to a political source who has spoken to Morrison. Two other sources confirmed his decision.

Morrison has scheduled campaign stops today in Olathe, Wichita, Topeka and Pittsburg. His Topeka event will be held on the steps of the Kansas Judicial Center, which houses the state’s Supreme Court.

To win the job, he would have to unseat Phill Kline, the current GOP attorney general, who won the position three years ago and is expected to seek re-election next year, although no formal announcement has been made.

Morrison declined to confirm or deny Monday if he is running for attorney general. All of his press conferences except one are on the steps of courthouses and the judicial center. The fourth press conference, the last one of the day, will be at 3:30 p.m. at Pittsburg’s airport.

The prospect of Morrison’s entry into the attorney general’s race caught many politicians by surprise.

Running as a Democrat was even more surprising.

“I’m trying to think of when I’ve heard of something like this,” said Kevin Yowell, an Overland Park political consultant. “I don’t know that I’ve ever heard of this around here. It’s not uncommon for a Democrat to switch to Republican. But for an entrenched officeholder to leave the GOP to become a Democrat, I am just stunned.”

Former state Sen. David Adkins, a Leawood Republican who lost to Kline in the GOP primary three years ago, said Morrison’s emergence as a candidate surprised him.

“Even though General Kline has been controversial, the power of incumbency combined with his very engaged presence within the party would hold him in good stead,” Adkins said.

Morrison supported Adkins in the GOP primary campaign three years ago and was his Johnson County chairman.

So far, no major Democratic contender has come forward.

“Surely he (Morrison) would have called me if he was going to run as a Republican,” said Tim Shallenburger, chairman of the Kansas Republican Party.

Kline soundly defeated Adkins, a political moderate, in the 2002 GOP primary but barely won the general election when challenged by Democrat Chris Biggs of Junction City. Consequently, the conventional political wisdom suggested that any major challenge to Kline, a conservative, would be mounted next year by Democrats and not moderate Republicans.

Kansas incumbents for statewide office have a great track record when it comes to winning party primaries. Since 1956, only three lost to challengers from their own party.

“Phill has done a pretty good job as attorney general,” said Sen. Nick Jordan, a Shawnee Republican.

Jordan said Kline’s recent inquiry into abortion clinic records has gotten mixed reviews but “overall I think the reviews of Phill’s work have been pretty good.”

“I had a funny feeling a moderate Republican might run against Phill, but it is still a surprise,” Jordan added.

Kline’s office declined to comment Monday on Morrison’s expected entry into the campaign.

Allan Cigler, a political science professor at the University of Kansas, said Morrison may be known in Johnson County but is unknown around the rest of the state, while Kline is well-known statewide.

Adkins said Morrison would not enter such a contest if he thought his chances weren’t good.

Cigler echoed that sentiment.

“A person of the stature of Morrison wouldn’t jump into a race without some assurances that Kline is vulnerable,” he said. “They probably did a statewide poll or have access to a statewide poll.”

Yowell said Morrison also would have to overcome some resentment against affluent Johnson County from other parts of the state. He also faces the prospect of being called a GOP turncoat, Yowell added.

“Phill’s biggest problem in the last general election was that he was from Johnson County and not that Biggs was that great a candidate,” Yowell said.

Kline, 45, ran three years ago as a resident of Shawnee, but now lives in Topeka.

Morrison, 51, joined the district attorney’s office shortly after graduating from the Washburn University School of Law in 1980. He was an assistant district attorney under Dennis Moore until 1989, when Morrison took over the top spot. Moore, a Democrat, is now a U.S. congressman.

Morrison was unopposed in his 2004 re-election bid. He would not be up for re-election until 2008.

Morrison was born in Dodge City and grew up in Hays, Plainville, Bonner Springs and Kansas City, Kan. He graduated from Washington High School in Kansas City, Kan. He and his wife, Joyce Morrison, live in Lenexa and are instructors in a marriage preparation program at the Catholic church they attend in Shawnee.

Morrison has prosecuted many of the county’s high-profile murder cases, including those against Richard Grissom Jr., Debora Green and John E. Robinson Sr. In the 1980s, he headed the county’s narcotics prosecution and became a regional authority on drug prosecution.

Morrison was an original member of the Kansas Sentencing Commission and is currently its vice chairman. He is an associate member of the VERA Institute, a public policy group that promotes sentencing reform.

I met Paul Morrison a couple of days ago and found him to be truly impressive.

No doubt my hero Dennis Moore (Democrat, U.S. House of Reps) had a lot to do with Morrison becoming a Dem.

Now let's go get whackjob Phill Kline outta there.

PAUL MORRISON'S OFFICIAL CAMPAIGN ANNOUNCEMENT
October 25, 2005

Thank you for coming out today.

My name is Paul Morrison. And, for seventeen years, I’ve been proud to serve as Johnson County District Attorney. With me today is my family, my wife of 24 years, Joyce, our daughter Mary Amanda and sons, Drew and Cole.

Now, you should know: I haven’t always lived in Johnson County..

But I have always been a Kansan: Born in Dodge City. Raised in Hays. In Plainsville. In Bonner Springs and Kansas City, Kansas.. Our extended family owns a farm in Valley Falls, KS in Jefferson County.

And as a lifelong Kansan, I’m well aware of our state’s exceptional heritage.

A heritage grounded in our deep respect for law and order. In our unflinching ability as Kansans to tell right from wrong.

You see it time and time again, throughout our history…

…the instinct to protect and serve anyone fortunate enough to call Kansas home.

To keep folks safe from harm.

That instinct was in Colonel Henry Leavenworth – who, in May of 1827, established Fort Leavenworth on the banks of Salt Creek. An army post built to protect the western frontier, and safeguard those who traveled the Santa Fe Trail.

That instinct to protect and serve was in the legendary frontiersmen and lawmen who built this state. Men like Buffalo Bill Cody – founder of Rome, Kansas. And Wyatt Earp – Deputy Marshal of Wichita and Dodge City.

Or the men and marshals of Coffeyville, Kansas – who, on October 5th of 1892, bravely put an end to the infamous Dalton Gang.

It’s a heritage we see reflected today in the basic decency and goodness of everyday Kansans, in every corner of this state.

Now, I don’t even begin to compare myself to storied Kansans like Leavenworth or Earp. Not in the least.
But, as someone who’s spent nearly his entire adult life in law enforcement – I do admire their instinct to protect and serve the people of Kansas.

It’s an instinct that was in me twenty-five years ago, when I first became a prosecutor. An instinct that’s stayed in me ever since.

And it’s why I asked you here today.

To tell you that – in the name of protecting and serving the people of Kansas – I am running to be our state’s next Attorney General.

The reasons I’m running are simple enough…

Because Kansas deserves to have a stronger, more experienced lawman – with a no-nonsense attitude – as our Attorney General.

Because the people of Kansas are ready to return prosecutorial know-how, genuine law enforcement experience, and a law-and-order focus to their Attorney General’s office.

As Attorney General, I’ll insist on getting back to the basics of the office: Safety. Security. And the kind of independent approach Kansans ought to expect from the state’s chief law enforcement official.

That means a renewed commitment to the fundamentals:

Prosecuting criminals.

PAUL MORRISON'S OFFICIAL CAMPAIGN ANNOUNCEMENT, Continued

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Protecting victims of crime.

Safeguarding consumers.

And representing the state with integrity and impartiality as its top lawyer.

I didn’t pursue a career in the law to become a politician. I didn’t do it to make money, or make myself famous.

No.

For twenty-five years, I’ve been a prosecutor – personally trying more than a-hundred-and-twenty jury cases, including dozens of murder trials. Some have been among the most difficult and complex cases in the history of our state.

My jury trial conviction rate is over 98% which is a
record I’m proud to place before the people of Kansas – and I ask if a stronger, more effective Attorney General can better serve them than the one we have today.

As I’ve done during four terms as Johnson County District Attorney, I will professionalize the Office of Attorney General – bringing on the best and the brightest to protect and serve the people of Kansas. Because I believe we’re all in this together.

I will devote my energies to the things an Attorney General ought to do – which includes trying some cases myself, just like I have as District Attorney. Because I believe in leading by example.

I will serve the best interests of each and every Kansan – regardless of political party or persuasion. Because I believe in leading with independence.

I will uphold and strengthen the laws of the state – rather than pursuing any narrow agenda that only serves the interests of a few. Because I believe that’s the solemn obligation of anyone called to enforce the law.

For two decades, I’ve worked with the state legislature to strengthen the laws that keep Kansans safe. Helping author our state’s death penalty statute. Helping write the laws that punish sexual predators. Helping make Kansas a safer place to live.

For all of my adult life, it has been a privilege to be a public servant and serve as a professional prosecutor. And that’s how I have always seen myself. Why I have remained steadfastly non-partisan in my work.

Because there is no Republican or Democratic way to prosecute a case. That should be true whether you are District Attorney or Attorney General.

However, I am deeply concerned about direction the Attorney General’s office is headed: Too often deviating from its core mission. Too often dividing the people of Kansas.

And so, I have chosen to change my voter registration – and run as a Democrat for Attorney General. I do so because I am most comfortable running as a Democrat. Because I sense their strong commitment to safety, security, and the rule of law.

But whether you are a Democrat, a Republican, or a proud Independent, you have my assurances: You’re a Kansan in my eyes. You have my assurances: I will be your Attorney General.

Because keeping Kansas safe isn’t a partisan interest. Keeping Kansas safe is every Kansan’s interest. It is our heritage as a state. And it will be our future as a people…

…should my fellow Kansans allow me the honor and opportunity to serve as their next Attorney General.

Thank you.


www.morrisonforag.com/

RESPECTED JOHNSON COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY, WITH 25-YEAR RECORD AS PROSECUTOR, ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY FOR KANSAS ATTORNEY GENERAL

Olathe, KS – Declaring that “Kansas deserves a stronger, more experienced lawman with a no-nonsense attitude” as the state’s top law enforcement official, Johnson County District Attorney Paul Morrison today announced his candidacy for Kansas Attorney General.

“The people of Kansas are ready to return prosecutorial know-how, genuine law enforcement experience, and a law-and-order focus to their Attorney General’s office,” Morrison said.

“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.”

Morrison, who has spent his entire 25-year career as a criminal prosecutor, announced his candidacy for Attorney General at a series of news conferences across the state. He and his wife, Joyce, were joined by two of their three children at stops in Olathe, Topeka, Wichita, and Pittsburg.

In his remarks, Morrison emphasized his long record as a prosecutor, and deep experience in the field of criminal justice.

In 2004, Morrison was named the state’s “Prosecutor of the Year” by the Kansas County and District Attorney’s Association. He has personally tried more than 120 jury cases, including dozens of murder trials – notably, the successful prosecution of infamous serial killers Richard Grissom and John E. Robinson.

As an Assistant District Attorney in the early 1980s, Morrison spearheaded Johnson County’s efforts to crack down on narcotics, becoming recognized as a regional expert on drug prosecution.

As District Attorney, Morrison has earned a reputation as a strong leader and refreshing innovator, establishing initiatives to combat juvenile crime, fight domestic violence, and protect consumers against fraudulent scams and schemes.

Outside the DA’s office, Morrison has worked closely with the Kansas legislature to help author the state’s pioneering laws against sexual predators, and Kansas’ death penalty statute. He has also argued dozens of cases before the Kansas Supreme Court.

“My 98% jury trial conviction rate is a record I’m proud to place before the people of Kansas, and ask if a stronger, more effective Attorney General can better serve them than the one we have today,” Morrison said.

Elected as a Republican to the post of Johnson County District Attorney in 1988, and re-elected without opposition four times since, Morrison said he has changed his voter registration to run for Attorney General as a Democrat.

“After considerable personal reflection, I decided I’m most comfortable in the Democratic Party,” Morrison said. “I sense in the Democratic Party a strong commitment to safety, security, and the rule of law.”

But Morrison stressed that public safety “isn’t a partisan interest”; rather, that “keeping Kansas safe is every Kansan’s interest.”

“Whether you are a Democrat, a Republican, or a proud Independent, be assured that you’re a Kansan first in my eyes. And, you have my assurances: I will be your Attorney General.”

Morrison said he would begin assembling his campaign organization in the coming weeks and months. Coinciding with today’s announcement swing, Morrison said he has named former Kansas House Majority Leader Joseph Hoagland as the official Treasurer of his campaign committee.

http://www.morrisonforag.com/

Paul Morrison's website

Please volunteer!

I just typed out the greater portion of a letter received last week from Paul Morrison's campaign to post here, and ZAP KAPLOOIE off it went into uncharted cyberland in a millisecond except for the last four letters, "t-i-o-n," which makes not for the best of posts, so I'm gonna do it in increments this time.

First part of letter. Please excuse any typos as my keyboard gets uncooperative and crotchety. It is old.


Dear _________,

My name is Paul Morrison and I am running for Attorney General in this great state of Kansas.

I hope you can give me a few minutes to tell you who I am and why I am running ... and why this race is so important for our state.

I'm a life-long Kansan. I was born in Dodge City, went to high school in Wyandotte County, graduated from Washburn University with a degree in Criminal Justice, and then received my law degree at Washburn Law School.

I've spent my entire 25-year career as a prosecutor: fighting crime, solving cases, protecting consumers and putting criminals away. For the last 19 years I've been the District Attorney in Johnson County. We've successfully prosecuted thousands of criminals and I've personally won over 100 jury trials, including some of the most difficult our state has ever faced. In 2001 the Kansas County and District Attorney's Association named me the Prosecutor of the Year.

I think my resume speaks for itself. Apparently, so do countless others across the state. That's why Governor Kathleen Sebelius reached across the aisle and asked me to join her ticket and run for Attorney General against Phill Kline.

(edit to fix typo)

Letter from the Morrison campaign, continued. I'm posting excerpts, not the entire letter.



I thought about the Governor's offer long and hard. After a great deal of discussion with my wife, Joyce, we came to the conclusion that Kansas needs an Attorney General who is a prosecutor, not a politician. We need to replace Phill Kline and his partisan political agenda.

While Kline has been Attorney General, the office has lost its way. No longer is it the chief law enforcement arm in the state. Instead, it has become a bastion of political ideologues more intent on pushing their narrow personal agendas than on prosecuting criminals. The way in which Kline has pursued obtaining the private medical records of young women is a perfect example of how the office has lost its way.

He skirted the Open Records Act by inviting conservative members of the State Board of Education in three at a time, rather than all at once, to discuss the legal ramifications of their plans with regard to the teaching of evolution and "intelligent design" behind closed doors rather than in the public eye.

Morrison campaign letter, conclusion.

(Yes, this is a fundraising letter, and a good one, I think. The reality of the situation is as stated in the next-to-last paragraph here: that money is often the most crucial test, not issues, experience or values. Unfortunate, and all too true.)



The job turnover in his office has been extraordinary, both in the numbers of his own hired attorneys who have left, and in the victims' rights and consumer rights advocates who have given up on getting anything done other than holding a press conference or placing an ad featuring Kline talking about the victims.

We all know it's time for a change, and together we can do it. But, I need your help. I need you to join the Governor and me in this unprecedented effort to remove Kline from office.

We are in the right, but it will not be easy. And it will not be cheap. Kline, Tim Shallenburger, and their fellow ideologues (some from Kansas, and many not), will spend whatever it takes to keep him in office. We must match their efforts!

It is an unfortunate economic reality of politics that money, not issues, experience or values, is often the most crucial test. We have a fundraising report due at the end of the year, and we have to show that we can raise the money to fight against the negative attacks that Phill Kline is sure to sling at us.

This is an important and challenging battle. Together, we can win.

Here's an earlier news story from the Lawrence Journal-World that I missed until now. I believe there is an error here as to how long Morrison has been DA, but I am not certain.



LJWorld.com

JOHNSON COUNTY DA RUNNING FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL

Morrison to switch parties to run against GOP incumbent Phill Kline

By Scott Rothschild (Contact)

Tuesday, October 25, 2005

Topeka — Johnson County Dist. Atty. Paul Morrison shook up Kansas politics today, announcing that he was joining the Democratic Party and will challenge state Atty. Gen. Phill Kline, a Republican, next year.

Morrison, a prosecutor for 25 years and district attorney for the past 15 years, said he was concerned about the competence and direction of the attorney general’s office under Kline, a conservative who has said he will seek re-election.

“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,” Morrison said.

Morrison said he was concerned over Kline’s pursuit of medical records from abortion clinics in what Kline, an opponent of abortion, has said is an investigation into allegations of child rape and illegal late term abortions.

Morrison said he supports abortion rights.

Republicans launched a quick response to Morrison’s announcement.

Republican Party Chairman Tim Shallenburger said Morrison “pulled a Benedict Arnold” and called him soft on crime.

Kline also called him soft on crime.

“I know he is frustrated for some time because I have opposed his efforts to let violent criminals back on our streets,” he said.

Kline was making reference to legislation adopted in 2000 that critics said allowed the early release of criminals. Supporters of the bill, including Morrison, said the bill alleviated prison crowding to make sure there was room in the prison system to hold violent criminals.

Shallenburger tied Morrison’s support of the bill to the early release of Reginald Carr from parole supervision. Carr was later convicted in the murders of five people in Wichita. The Kansas Department of Corrections has said that a clerical error led to Carr’s early release.

Morrison said he decided to switch parties because he felt Democrats were more focused on law and order issues and not divisive cultural issues.

But some observers noted Morrison would have had a tough time toppling the incumbent Kline in the Republican Party primary, which generally attracts more conservative Republicans.

Kansas Democratic Party Chairman Larry Gates welcomed Morrison.

“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.

U.S. Rep. Dennis Moore, a Democrat whose district includes east Lawrence, said Morrison “will make an outstanding attorney general.”

Morrison worked as an assistant prosecutor under then-Johnson County Dist. Atty. Moore in the 1980s.

Senate Judiciary Chairman John Vratil predicted a race between Kline and Morrison would be close.

“I think the attorney general’s vulnerable, and Paul Morrison is an outstanding candidate,” Vratil, R-Leawood, said.

In 2002, Kline defeated then-Geary County Atty. Chris Biggs, a relative unknown in statewide politics, by fewer than 4,300 votes out of more than 821,000 cast.

The Associated Press contributed to this story

5 at 12:59 p.m.