Denver District Attorney Beth McCann announced Thursday she will not seek re-election in 2024 to a third term.
“It has been the honor and privilege of my life to head up the Denver District Attorney’s Office and the amazing team of committed dedicated employees for the past several years,” McCann stated in a news release. “This was the most difficult decision I have made about my career and future, and it came with a great deal of thought, weighing of options and consideration for the future of the Denver District Attorney’s Office.”
When McCann, a Democrat, was sworn into office Jan. 10, 2017, she became the first female district attorney in Denver’s history.
Before being elected as district attorney, McCann served for four terms as a House representative for District 8 in the state legislature, worked in law for various firms, was Denver’s first female manager of safety, co-founded the Colorado Women’s Bar Association and more.
“A consideration for me is that I believe the office is in excellent shape and is thriving,” she stated in the news release. “I have great confidence in the current state of the office, and I sincerely hope that the reforms we have made will not just continue but that they will grow and thrive under a new district attorney.”
McCann said another factor is that she’s been able to accomplish the goals she set out to achieve throughout her time in office, including establishing a data dashboard for transparency; implementing dedicated offices for juveniles, human trafficking, and elder and at-risk abuse; creating peer mentoring support programs; and pursuing diversity, equity and inclusion training.
Although she will step down from office in January 2025, McCann said her objectives for the next year and a half are to address the ongoing amount of juvenile violence in Denver, the increase of fentanyl in the city and the increase in the use and prevalence of guns.
McCann said she will assist the next DA in any way she can to make sure there’s a smooth transition.
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