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Cynthia Huebner (Saline County Attorney, Kansas, candidate 2024)
Cynthia Huebner (Republican Party) ran for election to Saline County Attorney in Kansas on August 6, 2024.[1]
Elections
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Cynthia Huebner completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Huebner's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I grew up in Lansing, KS and moved to Salina with my husband in October of 2022 with plans to start a family and pursue a lifelong career in prosecution. Growing up, I was often around my grandmother who ran a domestic violence shelter in Leavenworth. I often saw or heard about the cycle of violence, the dangers of people not intervening early enough in the cycle, and the importance of diligent prosecution. I always had an interest in the criminal justice system and a desire to help victims.
I went to K-State for my undergraduate degree and received my bachelor's in Criminology with a minor in Computer Science. I then went to Washburn Law and received my J.D. While obtaining my J.D., I interned at the Douglas County District Attorney's Office where I second chaired multiple jury trials, managed some of my own cases, and assisted in an appellate brief.
In May of 2022, upon receiving my J.D. and while studying for the Bar Exam, I began my career at the Saline County Attorney's Office. I was officially sworn in in September of 2022. I have tried 8 jury trials so far while in Saline County ranging from DUIs to First Degree Murder. I have also conducted numerous motion hearings, preliminary hearings, and have been involved in our local Drug Court Program. Although still fairly new, I am no stranger to the courtroom and I am not afraid to try cases. I believe my passion for helping victims and my dedication to diligent prosecution make me a great candidate.
- If elected, I will be committed to prioritizing the prosecution of violent crimes and ensuring that justice is served for victims and their families. Saline County residents deserve to feel safe and protected, and by taking more cases involving violent crimes to trial, we can send a strong message that such behavior will not be tolerated. This approach will not only hold offenders accountable but also act as a deterrent to potential criminals. We will allocate the necessary resources and work closely with law enforcement to build strong cases, ensuring that we have the evidence needed to secure convictions and achieve just outcomes.
- Many members of the community have expressed concerns regarding addiction and mental health treatment. There is currently a Drug Court Program to help address addiction while individuals are on probation. Drug Court has helped rehabilitate many offenders by getting them into treatment, gain and maintain employment, and remain law abiding citizens post graduation from the program. A couple months ago, I provided a letter in support of a grant to start a Behavioral Health Court program. If elected, I vow to support treatment courts. The establishment of a behavioral health court in our district represents a pivotal advancement in addressing the underlying issues that often lead individuals into the criminal justice system.
- I believe that there is a misunderstanding in showing the community what occurs in the judicial system. Everyone has the ability to see arrests. What isn’t very known, is the convictions and exactly how the justice system works. I am looking at different options to show the residents of Saline County the statistics and explain how cases are handled from start to finish. This transparency will show the dedication of this office under my leadership. I hope that it will show a fair punishment for the crimes that occur. This will serve as helping to educate everyone on the justice system coming full circle. It will also give the residents of Saline County the opportunity to ask questions and provide feedback that will help my office to serve.
The most important characteristics or principles for an elected official include:
1. Integrity: Honesty and ethical behavior are crucial for building trust. An elected official must be transparent and act in the best interests of the public.
2. Accountability: Taking responsibility for actions and decisions, and being answerable to the public, ensures that officials remain focused on their duties and obligations.
3. Empathy: Understanding and being sensitive to the needs and concerns of constituents helps an elected official make informed and compassionate decisions. For the County Attorney, this includes empathy for victims and defendants.
4. Leadership: Strong leadership involves setting a positive example, inspiring others, teaching and mentoring others, and making tough decisions when necessary to benefit the community.
5. Communication: Clear, effective communication fosters transparency and keeps the public informed about policies, decisions, and important issues. With communication, it is important to also listen to the concerns and ideas of others.
6. Commitment: Dedication to serving the community and working diligently to address its challenges demonstrates a genuine desire to make a positive impact. An elected official is a PUBLIC SERVANT.
7. Vision: Having a forward-thinking approach and the ability to plan strategically for the future ensures that an elected official can guide the community toward long-term success and improvement.
8. Fairness: Treating all individuals and groups with impartiality and justice, and ensuring that policies are equitable and reasonable, helps to create a just and inclusive society.
9. Collaboration: Working cooperatively with other officials, community leaders, and public entities is essential for effectively serving the community and achieving common goals.
10. Resilience: The ability to stay determined and adapt in the face of challenges and setbacks is vital for navigating the complexities of public service.
1. Working with law enforcement to ensure we have everything necessary to take cases to trial; 2. Communicating with victims and witnesses from the time cases are filed to keep them updated on the status of cases while also helping prepare them for Court; 3. Establishing and maintaining a working relationship with all entities that are involved in the criminal justice system in order to best serve the community (this includes DVACK, CAPS, Community Corrections, Court Services, CKF, and CKMHC); 4. Recruiting, teaching, and mentoring new prosecuting attorneys in the office; 5. Being available not only during the standard 8-5 business day but after hours for questions from staff and law enforcement; 6. Maintaining statistics on cases charged and prosecuted in order to keep the community informed; 7. Supporting treatment court programs such as Drug Court and Behavioral Health Court; 8. Managing staff in the office (this includes overseeing how cases are handled but not micromanaging attorneys, finding and sending staff to relevant and helpful training related to the job, getting updated programs to manage cases and handle video or electronic evidence)
It's crucial for the public to understand where and how funds are being used.
I am very passionate about being tough on violent crimes, especially those involving domestic violence, sexual assault, and children. I am also very passionate about helping rehabilitate non violent offenders through the use of treatment court programs such as drug court and behavior health court.
I look up to my grandmother. From a young age, I remember seeing how she ran a domestic violence shelter in my hometown, how she coordinated with her staff to get victims out of violent situations and to assist them in court proceedings. They had annual candlelight vigils to remember victims who had been killed by intimate partner violence and to raise awareness of domestic violence. She has been one of the most impactful people in my life that supported and encouraged me to pursue a career in prosecution to help victims.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
External links
[1] ↑ Submitted to Ballotpedia's candidate survey in 2024.
