"I have seen her prosecute difficult cases to successful and just conclusions"

Volunteers, supporters, law enforcement including two former DA candidates, Kathleen Bryson and Paul Hagen, former Sheriff Mike Downey, gathered outside the Humboldt County Courthouse, as early as 11:45 to hear Humboldt County District Attorney Maggie Fleming announce her candidacy for relection at 12:15.

Former Eureka Councilmember Melinda Ciarabellini was volunteering. The only current Eureka City Council member to attend was Councilmember Kim Bergel. One familiar face from Arcata was Michael Winkler.

It is not even 12:15 and there are already  over 100 people here. By 12:22 about 150.
People honked as they drove by. Some people who would have attended like Probation Chief Bill Damiano were at the Public and Crime Safety monthly meeting going on at the same time.

Zuretti "Zuey" Goosby introduced her to crowd and said "We are very fortunate to have Maggie Fleming as DA."

None of the Supervisors were there. Some of the supervisors could not attend due to other commitments. First District Supervisor Rex Bohn, who introduced Maggie Fleming four years, is at a RCRC meeting in Tahoe. Reached by phone just now, he said, "Maggie has done a great job for the Board of Supervisors and Humboldt County. I wish I could have been there to support her in person."

The title of the post is a quote from DA Investigator Lynne Soderberg, the second speaker today. She has 33 years of law enforcement experience and has known DA Fleming for 23 years. Started working at the DA's office two and half years ago.

Ms. Soderberg highlighted improvements and achievments under DA Fleming's leadership, particularly citing the seriousness and prosecution of domestic violence and sexual assault cases.

Both Mr. Goosby and Ms. Soderberg mentioned the respect DA Fleming has from law enforcement, the entire criminal justice system and the community.

Giving examples, stats, acknowledging and thanking her team, DA Fleming explained why she is seeking re-election. Vertical prosecution was one of those examples.

42 jury trials last year; no backlog of police reports were other examples cited by DA Fleming. She mentioned Ferrer, Warren and Bullock as high profile cases successfully prosecuted but said there are thousands of other cases also prosecuted successfully and taken just as seriously by her office.

DA Fleming also spoke of the challenges her office and the criminal justice system face in California's changing landscape.

One new goal this term for DA Fleming is adding elder abuse services for victims similar to those offered to child abuse victims. The other is on build on educating the community about prosecution and charging of cases. She already does that through her community outreach.

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http://johnchiv.blogspot.com/2017/09/da-maggie-fleming-to-formally-announce.html?m=1