Gorman running for re-election

Wyandotte County District Attorney Jerome A. Gorman is a candidate for re-election.

Gorman, who filed Feb. 15, is running for re-election to the office of District Attorney of the 29th Judicial District, which covers Wyandotte County. He has held that office since 2005.

In filing for re-election, Gorman stated, “It has been my honor to have served our community as a prosecutor in this office for nearly 35 years and to have served as your District Attorney since 2005. I am running for re-election because I believe the job of Wyandotte County District Attorney is an important job within the criminal justice system. The top prosecutor requires experience, leadership and hard work.”

“I went to work for Nick Tomasic in 1981 and realized early on that being a prosecutor was my calling. When I was elected Wyandotte County District attorney in 2004, I didn’t do it as a stepping stone for future political ambitions. To me it was the realization of a dream I had worked more than 20 years to achieve,” Gorman said in a statement. “I feel very fortunate to have the job I always wanted and I’m running for re-election because I want to continue delivering quality legal services in Wyandotte County.”

“I am blessed to go to work every day with what I believe is the best group of prosecutors and support staff in the state. I am proud of all that we, along with our partners in law enforcement, have accomplished over the last 11 years,” Gorman said. “The brave men and women of our local law enforcement agencies work 24 hours a day protecting our community so I make sure our office is available 24 hours a day to assist them. I am personally notified every time a major crime is committed and one of our prosecutors responds to help with search warrants and offer other legal assistance. A prosecutor from our office works every weekend and not a week goes by when we are not called upon to offer assistance outside of ‘normal business hours.”

“During the last 11 years I have overseen a modernization of the District Attorney’s Office. Our courts continue to move towards going completely paperless and I have made the technological investments necessary to ensure that this office is operating efficiently,” Gorman said. “I have also taken steps to make sure we are focusing our resources on those offenders who pose the highest risk to our community. We now have a drug diversion program for low level drug crimes and have completely revamped our general diversion program focusing on low level non-violent offenders.”

“It has been an honor to get up and go to work as your District Attorney each and every day of the last 11 years and I look forward to serving our community for the next four years and beyond,” Gorman said.

Gorman is a 1974 graduate of Bishop Ward High School in Kansas City, Kan. In 1978, he earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Kansas. In 1981, he graduated with a juris doctor degree from Washburn University School of Law. Soon after graduating from law school he began his career at the Wyandotte County District Attorney’s Office as an assistant district attorney under Nick Tomasic. He started as a young attorney prosecuting low level cases and worked his way up to become a senior prosecutor handling major crimes, leading the prosecution on many high-profile criminal cases. He is one of the most experienced prosecutors in the state of Kansas.

Gorman’s dedication to prosecution extends well beyond his office. He is a past president of the Kansas County and District Attorneys Association (KCDAA) and was the 2013 recipient of that organization’s Lifetime Achievement Award for excellence in prosecution. He currently heads up its homicide section. He is also the KCDAA representative to the National District Attorney’s Association and serves on its best practices committee. Gorman is often called upon to testify before the Kansas legislature regarding bills affecting prosecutors and their law enforcement partners.

Gorman has also been a longtime supporter of Sunflower House, a children’s advocacy and abuse prevention center serving Wyandotte and Johnson counties. He and Johnson County District Attorney Steve Howe were the presenting sponsors of Sunflower House’s (2010) Valentine’s Gala; the organization’s largest annual fundraiser. Three of his Assistant District Attorneys: Mollie Hill, Jennifer Tatum and Sheryl Lidtke, as well as Victim Advocate Angie Kolenda, have received Sunflower House’s Child Advocate Award. Angie Kolenda has also organized an annual volleyball tournament to benefit Sunflower House for the last three years.

Gorman has provided training to his prosecutors and other prosecutors around the state. He also has provided training to area law enforcement officers within Wyandotte County.

Outside of work, Gorman is actively involved in his community. He is a frequent guest speaker at civic organizations throughout Wyandotte County. Gorman is also an active member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church where he participates in the Green Club. He served from 1987 to 2003 as athletic director at St. Patrick’s school. He has served on the executive board for Wyandotte and Johnson Catholic Youth Organization since 2005 and has served as its chairman of the board. Gorman has coached youth teams in several organized sports leagues, and for years he served as a referee in youth basketball leagues.

Gorman’s life is strongly centered on his family. He and his wife, Vicki, have three children and two grandsons. They are currently awaiting the arrival of a third grandson in April. Vicki teaches second grade at St. Patrick’s School in Kansas City, Kan. Their daughter Emily graduated with her bachelor’s and master’s from the University of Notre Dame; their son Pete and daughter Hattie both graduated with doctorate degrees from Creighton University in Omaha, Neb.

Gorman stated Wyandotte County is very important to him, it’s where he was born and raised, where he was educated, where he served the public for over three decades, and where he and his staff have chosen to raise their families.