Abrahamson sole candidate for district attorney

By Dan MacArthur
Correspondent

The transition should be smooth in the district attorney's office with one 32-year veteran poised to replace the incumbent who has served an identical tenure.

Republican Larry Abrahamson is unopposed is his bid to succeed Stu VanMeveren as district attorney for the Eighth Judicial District encompassing Larimer and Jackson counties. VanMeveren was term-limited after serving eight, four-year terms.

Abrahamson said he plans to follow in the "great legacy and tradition" established by VanMeveren during his 32 years in office while adapting to new demands. "The challenges of these changing times will require the constant re-evaluation of policies and procedures," he said.

Relieving population pressures to assure sufficient capacity in the jail is among his priorities, Abrahamson said. He expressed optimism that plans for nearly doubling the pretrial services staff could make space available for criminals who most require incarceration while saving the county money and buying time before another jail expansion.

"We're looking at ways of streamlining the process," Abrahamson said. "Hopefully they'll put a dent in it so we can start solving the problems."

He said the district attorney's office will face a number of other serious challenges that include: addressing the spreading use of methamphetamine, dealing with complex identity theft cases, ensuring that crime victims are supported in the criminal justice system, developing new and effective ways of addressing juvenile crime given dwindling financial resources, and finding effective methods to curb domestic violence.

Abrahamson also expressed interest in promoting community policing. "When a community becomes a partner with our law enforcement officials, we present a clear message that we will not tolerate those who needlessly victimize law-abiding persons through criminal conduct," he stated.

A South Dakota native like VanMeveren, Abrahamson was raised on a farm and attended a one-room school for eight years. He earned his undergraduate degree in business administration from the University of South Dakota and law degree from the University of Wyoming.

Abrahamson, 59, joined the office in 1972 as a deputy district attorney. In 1975 he became chief deputy district attorney, and in 2002 he was appointed first assistant deputy attorney. In that position he assumed increasing administrative responsibilities and also serves as a special prosecutor when needed in neighboring jurisdictions.