OKLAHOMA COUNTY, Okla. (KFOR) – Voters have elected a brand new Oklahoma County District Attorney throughout Tuesday’s midterm elections.
Vicki Behenna takes the place of very long time DA, Dave Prater and turns into the first female district legal professional in Oklahoma County.
She can also be the first individual to be in that place since Prater began over a decade in the past.
Vicki Behenna joins the workplace with numerous expertise being a long-time federal prosecutor, a protection legal professional and govt director of the innocence mission. But that is her first go at politics.
Tuesday night time she celebrated together with her household and associates at Bodega 21c Museum, thanking them for supporting her when she determined to run.
“I don’t know what to say, I really don’t know what to say. There’s a part of me that wants to start crying there’s a part of me that’s so grateful that you all in Oklahoma county believes in me, and believes in the mission of justice that you made me the first female district attorney for Oklahoma county,” mentioned Vicki Behenna, Oklahoma County District Attorney.
A tearful Vicki Behenna moments after studying she gained the DA’s race. But now, it’s time to get to work.
The first factor Behenna mentioned she’s going to do when she will get in workplace, is construct a greater relationship with the Oklahoma City Police Department.
“All the stakeholders need to have a voice. We all need to be talking to each other. It’s kind of hard to do a prosecution when you’re not talking to your law enforcement partners. So that’s the first thing on the agenda to mend those relationships and begin that communication,” mentioned Behenna.
Another concern on the highest of her agenda is overcrowding within the Oklahoma County Jail.
“That’s one of the things that’s top of the agenda, is trying to figure out what bonds we can place some people or know bonds we can have for individuals that are low level, nonviolent offenders. So those are all things that are on the table, things I’ll be looking at on day one,” mentioned Behenna.
Behenna informed News 4, whereas working as a democrat in a purple state, the job just isn’t about politics.
“This is not a political office. This is a working district attorney… I knew that my experience meant something. And when I was talking to voters, that’s what I was telling [them]. That it’s not a Democrat or Republican issue. It’s an experience issue,” mentioned Behenna.
Behenna mentioned she’s humbled by the help of so many individuals in Oklahoma County who believed in her imaginative and prescient for the DA seat.
“I’m still trying to absorb it. I’ve never run for office before, so I still feel a little bit numb right now. I’m just so grateful and so humbled that Oklahoma County believes in me and believes in my vision,” mentioned Behenna.
Behenna beat out very long time Oklahoma County Commissioner and politician Kevin Calvey for the seat.
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