Mark Dupree, who won election in the Wyandotte County District Attorney’s contest on Tuesday night, said today that he was excited about helping and doing his part to make Wyandotte County safer.
Dupree defeated incumbent District Attorney Jerome Gorman, 7,052 votes to 4,840 votes, according to the unofficial election results from the election commissioner’s office. There was a 21 percent voter turnout, considered high for this county. There are no Republicans running for the office in November. Gorman has been district attorney since 2004 and has been a prosecutor in the office for 35 years.
“I’m also grateful to Wyandotte County citizens for electing me,” Dupree said. “They voted for me, and I’m going to do everything in my power to serve to the best of the ability I have.” He added he always wants to end with “To God be the glory.”
Dupree said he plans to take a proactive approach to dealing with crime, while prosecuting very effectively in the courtroom. He said he favors prosecution against violent crimes, while using such tools as veterans court, drug court and diversion on smaller nonviolent offenses. He is concerned about dealing with truancy and the pipeline from schools to prison.
He credited God and hard work for his win.
Dupree is the child of two pastors in Kansas City, Kan., and he said, “The Lord told me to run, and if I ran, I would win.”
Dupree, 34, is an attorney in private practice. His brother, Timothy Dupree, was elected a Wyandotte County District Court judge in 2014.
He said he has been working hard for a year and a half, engaging with the community and talking about their issues.
“You cannot serve people unless you have an ear for the people,” he said.
“The only way we can make Wyandotte safer is if we do it together,” he said.
Also, he credited his wife, Shanelle Dupree, a lawyer who served as campaign manager, coordinating a social media campaign and a ground campaign.
“I’m thankful for the years that Gorman gave to Wyandotte County and I believe that we will be able to build off the foundation that is there to further assist and help make Wyandotte County safer,” Dupree said.
Congratulations! I knew you were the best choice as soon as I met you the first time. Thank you again for speaking to our students at KCKCC and know that you are well supported in this office!!