Caleb Stegall, Perry attorney, is running for Jefferson County attorney, a position currently held by Mike Hayes.

LindseySlater

What spurred your decision to run for Jefferson County attorney? What are your qualifications?

2clueless

What criminal law back ground do you have? What is your record on representing criminal defendant’s? It appears you might look at getting a County Counselor job not a prosecutor job. Also, one comment on the not talking to the press if that is the case why is there an lengthy article in the Oskaloosa Independant with Mike Hayes?

bobblehead

As a Jefferson County resident, are you satisfied with the job Mike Hayes has done as County Attorney? If you are not satisfied, how will you do the job differently? If you are satisfied with Mike Hayes’ performance, why do you want the job?

Moderator

Hi, this is reporter Mike Belt. I will be the moderator for our chat this afternoon with Caleb Stegall, a Perry attorney who is running for Jefferson County attorney. Welcome, Caleb.

Caleb Stegall

Thanks Mike, it’s good to be here.

Moderator

Let’s get right to our first question:

gdiepenb

If elected, what area would you try to strengthen in the office?

Caleb Stegall

Thanks for the question. There are a number of areas needing strengthening in the Jefferson County Attorney’s office. First, it is vital to the office to increase the level of law enforcement and number of prosecutions in Jefferson County. Currently Jefferson County ranks 102nd out of 105 Kansas counties in per-capita felony dispositions. We need to bring those rates back up. In addition, the level of trust between our County Attorney’s office and our local law enforcement agencies has really suffered in recent years. One of my top priorities will be to restore those cooperative relationships with law enforcement.

Grump

You have represented Phill Kline in the abortion records lawsuit. Do you consider Phill Kline as a role model for a prosecutor?

Should Roe v. Wade be overturned? Should Griswold v Connecticut (which provides a right to contraception) be overturned? Will you use the office of Jefferson County Attorney to pursue overturning either Roe or Griswold?

Will you continue to represent Phill Kline if you are elected Jefferson County Attorney?

Caleb Stegall

Grump, yes, I have represented District Attorney Kline during the civil proceedings before the Kansas Supreme Court. Because the case is ongoing, it would not be proper for me to discuss the details of the case or offer opinions regarding my client. I will say that it is gratifying, professionally, to be recognized by many across the state and in the region as an attorney with the ability to handle some of our most high-profile and contentious legal matters.

With regard to the question of abortion, I am pro-life and politically a federalist. On legal grounds, I believe Roe v Wade to be a weak decision and believe that the matter is best left to state control.

No, I do not believe the office of county attorney has any real ability to overturn any United States Supreme Court opinion.

Moderator

Caleb, what kinds of cases do you normally handle as private attorney? Won’t becoming a prosecutor be a big change, if you are elected? Do you see it being difficult to make a switch?

Caleb Stegall

Thanks for the good questions Mike. In my private law practice I handle a wide variety of matters. I left a large law firm in Topeka to open a small-town practice with the goal of being a general practitioner. I handle quite a bit of the legal work for a number of our small businesses in Jefferson County along with all kinds of disputes and other matters for various folks who need representation. I also do a good bit of work for various political advocacy groups and grass roots movements at the State House in Topeka. For example, I am general counsel for Americans for Prosperity, a group advocating tax reform and government transparency, and I also serve on the executive committee for Audubon of Kansas, our state’s largest grass-roots conservation group. Finally, I have developed a niche of sorts in the area of political trials and political and campaign related disputes.

glcookie06

No question. I am just glad to see him run against MIke Hayes. Mike has a real attitude. If he likes you he will do anything to keep you from getting the harshest punishment and vise versa. He is very arogant, and needs to retire form his position. I have been told so many times that everyone is replaceable. And that means for MIke. We need a new face in the system..that will see both sides and not just one. Good luck Caleb! Waiting to see you in the court room as CA

Caleb Stegall

I appreciate the kind words and well wishing. I do believe that for the health of our democracy, especially in rural America, it is vital that people remain engaged in the political process, and this means having choices. That is one of the reasons I decided to run.

Moderator

Mike Hayes has a standing policy of not talking to the media. We are told that every time one of our reporters calls his office with questions. That policy has extended to his run for re-election. We understand there are certain things a prosecutor can’t talk about concerning cases, but what would your policy be? How open would you be not just to the media but to the public in general?

Caleb Stegall

Mike, you’re right, prosecutors are governed by certain ethical rules which restrict how much they can speak to the media. However, those rules have never been intended to cut off prosecutorial matters entirely from public scrutiny. I have a firm commitment to transparency and openness at all levels of government, and thus my policy with regard to the media would reflect a desire to allow as much public access to the working of public officials as is prudent given the circumstances and allowable under the various rules that apply.

I would also add, somewhat in answer to your earlier question which I did not fully address, that lawyers handle a very wide variety of matters. So in some ways, being a prosecutor would be a change for me. However, the common factor in every legal matter is solving a client’s problems and maintaining a relationship of trust. I have said repeatedly that the County Attorney’s office is the people’s law firm. It ought to have an open door policy and really listen to its clients, the citizens of the county. That is an area I intend to improve upon over current practice.

Moderator

That is all the time we have for this chat. Thanks to those of you who have submitted questions, and Caleb, thanks for joining us. Do you have an e-mail address where people can send you additional questions?

Caleb Stegall

Thanks Mike and the JW for inviting me. I enjoyed chatting with you and your readers. I would be happy to answer any questions at my campaign e-mail address: stegallforcountyattorney@gmail.com.

Thanks again!