by Daniel Johnson

November 11, 2024

At her watch party on Nov. 5, Johnson said she hoped her victory would give hope to black girls.

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Melesa Johnson, a 35-year-old Democrat, won her race against Republican Tracey Chappell, also a Black woman, to become the first Black prosecutor in Jackson County, Kansas City, MO.

According KCURthe race between the two women very concentrated on crime in the heavily Democratic county, and Johnson won his race easily as he focused on aggressive prosecution and crime prevention.

Johnson replaces Jean Peters Baker, the incumbent who has held the position since 2011; Baker declined to seek another term. Johnson came to Baker’s office as a young lawyer.

Johnson will leave her position as public safety director for Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas to take the position to which she was elected.

At her watch party on Nov. 5, Johnson said she hoped her victory would give hope to black girls. Johnson won the election with 57% to Chappell’s 43%.

“Today we showed that a black girl from the east side of Kansas City can become one of the highest-ranking law enforcement authorities in the entire county; That means something,” Johnson said. “That will extend to people who want to become police officers, prosecutors, sheriffs, probation officers, people where I come from. And that’s a good thing for the system as a whole.”

Johnson continued, “If you have never felt seen in a justice system meant to serve you, I am honored to be your beacon of hope and it is a responsibility I do not take lightly.”

The race became focused on crime due to a series of property crimes committed by armed teenagers, mostly breaking into cars and businesses in wealthy, majority-white neighborhoods.

In particular, public sentiment surrounding violent crime in Kansas City reached a fever pitch when two teenagers, ages 15 and 17, shot and killed a popular Irish chef, Shaun Brady, near his restaurant.

The two teens have been charged with second-degree murder and could be tried as adults.

Johnson’s response to the crime was to emphasize the prosecution of crimes like these, as well as Kansas City’s anti-violence initiative, SAVE KC.

“We will fight and reduce violence and improve security without losing sight of our humanity,” Johnson said.

Johnson continued: “We will work to strengthen support for survivors and empower our communities by attacking the root causes of crime, while demanding strict accountability. And we want to take meaningful steps to end the cycles of incarceration that tear families apart, while ensuring that children can live safely in their neighborhoods.”

SAVE KC focuses on street-level intelligence that gathers information about who is most likely to commit crimes.

Meanwhile, Chappell, using a tough-on-crime approach, argued that social justice initiatives should only emerge after the prosecution of violent crimes.

Beyond the issue of crime, another issue that became a central figure in the race was abortion. Missouri, like other conservative-governed states, issued a complete ban on abortion in 2022 after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.

“From the top of the ballot down, women’s reproductive freedoms, women’s reproductive rights have been a critical issue throughout this entire election cycle,” Johnson said.

According The Kansas City starJohnson too He promised his followers that he would lead with integrityemphasizing during the campaign that deep-seated problems in Jackson County would not be solved by incarceration.

Instead, Johnson proposed an expansion of certain areas of prosecution, such as nonviolent drug distribution cases, while also seeking to establish a new property crimes division and revitalize the conviction integrity unit, which examines potential convictions. unfair past.

Johnson acknowledged he has a difficult road ahead, but believes collaboration will help the county meet its challenges.

“We have a tall order ahead of us, but through true collaboration and partnership, we can and will rise to the occasion,” Johnson said.

Johnson continued: “The challenges have been great, but your determination has been greater and I am very grateful for your service and know I have big shoes in life to fill.”

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