Junction City ? Geary County’s chief prosecutor is running for attorney general.

County Atty. Chris Biggs, a Democrat, launched his campaign Friday with a news conference on the steps of the county courthouse. He later had a similar event at the Statehouse.

Biggs said he would work to reform the state’s sentencing laws to make them tougher.

He said he was especially concerned about making community corrections programs stricter, perhaps by requiring participants to wear special clothing that publicly identifies them as criminals. He also said he wanted to improve efforts to make sure victims received restitution.

“We need a comprehensive punishment system that starts with very minor offenses at the beginning and deals with offenders as a parent would deal with their child,” Biggs said. “With a child, you don’t give inconsistent messages.”

Biggs, 43, from Junction City, was first elected county attorney in 1988 and is now serving his fourth term. He is the only Democrat in the race, with the filing deadline noon Monday.

Two candidates are seeking the Republican nomination, Sen. David Adkins, of Leawood, and former state Rep. Phill Kline, of Shawnee.

Neither Republican has served as a county or district attorney. Kline was once U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback’s choice for U.S. attorney for Kansas, though Kline withdrew his name after Sept. 11.

Biggs said his experience as a prosecutor made him a strong candidate. He said he was concerned that the state had set its sentencing policy based on how close its prisons were to being overcrowded.

“The problem is the tail is wagging the dog,” he said. “Our criminal justice system is being dictated by how many people we have in prison.”