After two terms of service as your district attorney, I will soon go back to a normal life. Now, it’s your job to decide the future of our local criminal justice system.

Christian Champagne has been your assistant district attorney for the last seven years, and was the first person I hired after taking office in 2008. His judgment, compassion and perspective have been critical in leading the DA’s office in a new direction. He proves daily that I made the right choice and he deserves your support as the next DA.

Christian has the vision, leadership and experience to be a tremendous district attorney and lead this district into the future of criminal justice. He is a great trial lawyer and mentor to new attorneys and is a clear leader in the office and the community. He has successfully prosecuted some of the biggest cases in our jurisdiction, wins big trials and is not afraid to battle for justice. He has been a critical part of every major policy decision we have made, and has a genuine vision for the future.

In seven years, we have done what we said we would do: Drug Court, Behavioral Health Court, an adult diversion program, a domestic violence prosecutor, a rational approach to addiction, restorative justice programs, a sex crimes prosecutor and a fair but firm approach to crime. Now, you have a choice to make. Do we keep moving ahead with what really works or go back to the broken old-school approach that led to mass incarceration, shattered lives and long-term harm to our community?

Christian Champagne will continue to lead us toward real justice for our community. I urge you to support Champagne for district attorney.

Todd Risberg

Durango