Politics & Government
Veteran Prosecutor Tom Kensok Announces Run for Napa County D.A.
Kensok is 3rd candidate in race, along with incumbent Gary Lieberstein and fellow challenger Doug Pharr.
Napa resident, veteran prosecutor and longtime Napa Valley Unified School District Trustee Tom Kensok announced he will be running for Napa County District Attorney in 2014.
Kensok is the third candidate so far in the race, along with incumbent Gary Lieberstein, who is running for re-election, and fellow challenger Doug Pharr, a Napa attorney.
A Napa resident since 1990, Kensok has served as District Attorney in Contra Costa County for over 25 years and is in his third term as a trustee for the Napa Valley Unified School District, where he currently is the president of the board.
“This campaign comes down to competence,” said Kensok. “Napa County is a special community with an incredible quality of life, but the District Attorney is the one weak link.”
Kensok noted that according to the Judicial Council of California 2013 Court Statistics Report, Napa County has the second lowest felony disposition rate in the Bay Area. Napa County also has the second highest acquittal and dismissal rate in the Bay Area.
“The problem is leadership from the top,” Kensok said. “Our current D.A. isn’t spending enough time working on cases, and the statistics reflect that.”
A felony prosecutor for over 20 years in Contra Costa County, Kensok’s record speaks for itself. Contra Costa County has the highest felony conviction rate in the Bay Area and among the lowest acquittal and dismissal rates.
In addition to his extensive trial and office management experience, Kensok has been in charge of recruiting and training attorneys for the office. As a member of the school board, Kensok helps oversee a district with a budget of $120 million.
Under their leadership, a new school was built in American Canyon, helping to alleviate overcrowded classrooms throughout the district. Kensok also has served on the Charter Councils for the Napa Valley Language Academy and Stonebridge Charter School.
He served on the Board of Directors for Community Action Napa Valley, which oversees the Napa Valley Food Bank, Meals on Wheels, and the Shelter Project. In addition, he has coached youth soccer and baseball for his three kids, and is currently in his sixth year of coaching the Napa High Mock Trial Team.
Kensok said he would be launching a website soon, but in the meantime could be found on Facebook.
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