By SALINA POST
In the days leading up to the Aug. 6 Primary Election, check Salina Post for profiles introducing the community to the candidates running for public office.
The Salina Post sent questionnaires to the candidates asking for biographical information, initiatives they hope to champion and changes they would like to see made.
If you live outside of Saline County check with your local elections officer for election deadlines.
Personal Background
Full Name: Cynthia Kay Huebner
Age: 26
Current Occupation: Assistant Saline County Attorney
Educational Background: K-State, 2019, BS in Criminology/Sociology, Minor in Computer Science, Washburn Law, 2022, J.D.
Professional Experience: Assistant Saline County Attorney, May 2022-present, Legal Intern at Douglas County District Attorney Office, August 2021 - April 2022
Previous Political Experience: N/A
Legal and Professional Qualifications
What is your legal background and experience?
I have been a prosecutor since graduating law school in May of 2022 at the Saline County Attorney’s Office.
Have you ever been disciplined by any bar association or other professional regulatory body? If so, please explain.
No.
What types of cases have you primarily worked on in your career?
Everything ranging from traffic, DUIs, domestic battery, drug possession, drug distribution, murder, and rape. The most common types I prosecute are domestic battery, theft, and drug possession.
Do you have experience with both prosecution and defense?
No, I have only been a prosecutor and went to law school with the intention of pursuing a lifelong career in prosecution.
What continuing legal education courses have you taken in the last five years?
KCDAA Fall Conference 2022:
- Working with Uncooperative Domestic Violence Victims: Tips and Strategies for Effective Prosecutions
- Admissibility of Social Media and Digital Evidence
- Direct Examination of the Digital Forensics Examiner
- K.S.A. 60-1507 & Ineffective Assistance of Counsel Claims
- Takeaways from In re Spradling
- Talking to a Jury: Are you getting through?
- Ethics, Values & Leadership
- Handling Motions to Suppress
- DUI Offenders: Coming to a Sentencing Grid Near You
Washburn Law Annual Government Legal Career Forum CLE
KCDAA Spring Conference 2023
KCDAA Fall Conference 2023:
- Unpoisoning the Well - Address Juror Bias
- Rural Attorney Shortage
- Meeting the Consent Defense
- Understanding Trauma as Evidence
- Alcohol Facilitated Rape
- Understanding Offenders & Flipping the Victim Blaming Script
- Ethical Considerations for Prosecutors of Sex Crimes
- Appellate Ethics
- Jury Selection
- Gangs/NIBIN
- Fentanyl
Vision and Goals
Why are you running for county attorney
I believe we need some change; this involves needing more diligent prosecution, better relationships with law enforcement agencies, better communication with victims and witnesses, and supporting treatment courts.
What are your top three priorities if elected?
1. Taking more cases to trials, especially those involving violent crimes
2. Repairing and strengthening relations with law enforcement agencies and the county attorney's office to ensure that all entities are able to effectively serve the community
3. Helping to establish and support treatment court programs such as Drug Court, Behavioral Health Court, and Veterans Court
How do you plan to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the county attorney's office?
Find and send staff to relevant training, get updated technology and software for handling electronic evidence and case files, and improve recruiting efforts in order to get the office fully staffed.
What specific measures would you implement to reduce crime in the county?
Review and revise the current diversion program and policies, adopt a policy not to simply dismiss cases due to lack of cooperation from a victim, improve communication with victims and witnesses by making contact the moment a case is filed and helping to explain the process and prepare witnesses and victims for court, have a policy not to plea sex crimes to non-sex offenses, and support treatment court programs to address recidivism among those suffering from addiction and mental health crises.
Community and Public Safety
How do you plan to address the opioid crisis and other drug-related issues in the county?
Tough prosecution of drug distribution, especially when involving fentanyl and methamphetamine, while supporting treatment court programs such as Drug Court to assist addicts in getting treatment and dealing with mental health issues.
How will you ensure that all community members have fair access to justice?
The best ways to ensure that all community members have fair access to justice begin with educating the community about how the criminal justice system works, collaborating with law enforcement agencies to ensure that investigations are thorough and unbiased, using prosecutorial discretion to review cases on a case-by-case basis to determine whether individuals need treatment for addiction or mental health issues, as well as providing diversion opportunities for first-time non-violent offenders, and collaborating with other entities to provide resources to victims of crimes.
How do you plan to address our community's increased recidivism and repeat offender rates?
I plan on addressing this through two parts: for violent offenses, I will be tougher on these types of crimes by taking tougher stances on plea offers and taking more of these cases to trials; for nonviolent offenses, I will support probation that involves evaluations and treatment for anger management, batterer’s intervention programs, drug/alcohol treatment, and mental health treatment. If individuals who are given chances at probation do not show that they are ready to change when paired with the necessary resources, we will seek revocation of their probation, especially if they continue to commit new offenses while on probation.
Legal Philosophy and Approach
What is your philosophy on the county attorney's role in the criminal justice system?
The County Attorney’s role is to serve the community by enforcing the laws while also taking each situation on a case-by-case basis and considering all circumstances, evaluating strengths and weaknesses of cases, the desires of victims, and the likely reasons for why an offense was committed to seek justice in every case. Sometimes this will involve lengthy prison sentences; other times this could involve diversion, drug and alcohol treatment, restitution to victims, or outright dismissal.
What is your approach to handling juvenile offenders?
My approach is a balance between accountability and rehabilitation; juvenile offenders often are dealing with different developmental needs and issues in their lives than those of adult offenders. I would prioritize restorative justice, alternatives to detention, family involvement, and collaboration with social services to rehabilitate juvenile offenders and get them the help they need to support reformation.
Management and Administration
How will you ensure transparency and accountability within the county attorney's office?
Maintaining statistics of cases, pleas, dismissals, and trials to provide a quarterly report, opening up communication channels to be aware of concerns and questions in the community so the office can better serve the community, and seeking opportunities to educate the community on the role of the county attorney's office and the criminal justice system.
What steps will you take to improve your staff's training and professional development?
I will seek training opportunities that are relevant to each person’s position. I have already sought out training as an assistant county attorney with local law enforcement agencies, CAPS, and DVACK regarding trauma, child interviews, and electronic evidence.
How do you plan to manage the budget of the county attorney's office?
I would first assess current expenditures, review past budgets for the office over the last four years, set clear priorities and goals about the allocation of funds, create a detailed budget plan that includes all necessary expenditures such as salaries, office supplies, computer software for case and evidence management, training for employees, and diversion programs. I would further work with the treasurer and county commissioners to conduct research on how similarly sized counties compare on their budgets.
What metrics will you use to measure the success of your office?
Low turnover of staff, a higher percentage of successful diversions, a higher percentage of cases involving violence going to trials, and overall case statistics.
Technology and Innovation
How do you plan to incorporate technology to enhance the operations of the county attorney's office?
We are currently in the process of converting from a paper file system to an electronic filing system. I will continue to support this process. This will involve getting updated software and tablets or laptops for attorneys to have in the courtrooms, as well as software to manage and review electronic evidence for cases. I have already reached out to other county attorneys in Douglas County, Leavenworth County, McPherson County, and Dickinson County to find out what they use, what deals they have been able to get, and what training exists for those programs.
What innovative approaches would you bring to improve case management and public service?
I would get all of our staff trained and keep them up to date on our current electronic case management system, improve recruitment efforts by attending on-campus interview sessions at universities and colleges in Kansas and Missouri, and seek additional software and relevant training to manage cases and evidence so our office can handle larger caseloads more effectively.
What sets you apart from your opponents in this race?
I went to law school with the sole purpose of becoming a prosecutor. I am passionate about serving the community by helping victims and prosecuting crimes. I fully intend on being a career prosecutor. I have no fear of the courtroom, have already taken nearly a dozen cases to trial in my first two years, and I have a good working relationship with law enforcement agencies, DVACK, CAPS, and other entities involved in the criminal justice system.
Additionally, since beginning my campaign, I have asked hundreds of residents what concerns and questions they have, began planning on how to address those concerns, wrote a letter in support of behavioral health court, began working with other entities to implement changes to include enforcement of no contact orders, training for staff regarding domestic violence and sex crimes, and locating other facilities that can provide treatment for addiction and mental health issues when local facilities are at max capacity. I am running because I want to serve the community.
I understand that this is not simply a managerial position and that there is more to being the County Attorney than simply charging out cases and managing a budget.
How can voters learn more about your campaign? My Facebook Page