A candidate for Lincoln County District attorney has suspended his May primary election campaign and thrown his support to the newly appointed district attorney.
Kenneth R. Park, a longtime deputy district attorney, announced Monday he was ending his campaign and supporting Jonathan Cable, who was appointed in January by Oregon Gov. Kate Brown.
In his statement, Park sharply criticized Cable’s remaining opponent, Lanee Danforth, who is also a Lincoln County deputy district attorney and who has been campaigning aggressively for the position.
The race to see who becomes Lincoln County’s top criminal justice official is going to be the most heated local political race in the May 19 election. Unable to campaign in person or make speaking appearances because of the coronavirus pandemic, Cable and Danforth are advertising heavily and using social media to state their platforms and positions.
Park was one of the four lawyers who applied last fall for the job and then filed for the May primary before Cable was appointed. Park said he did so “out of a deep caring for the DA’s office.”
Since filing, however, Park had done little to no campaigning.
In his statement Monday, Park said he was suspending his campaign after observing Cable’s work, changes Cable made “to counteract the scheduling issues of the Circuit Court,” the “positive, hard-working” attitude Cable has brought to the office, the appointment of a new chief deputy, and hiring a new office manager who “has improved the morale of the office dramatically.”
“For these reasons, I am suspending my campaign for the position of district attorney and strongly endorse Jonathan Cable …,” Park said in his statement.
He then torn into Danforth, saying she “has little experience in the practice of law, less in prosecution, and no observable management qualities.” Park said a recent Danforth ad in the Newport News-Times was “fictitious, dishonest and possibly illegal …”
“If you were planning to vote for me on May 19th, please transfer that vote to Jonathan Cable …” Park wrote.
Park’s name will still appear on the ballot because March 13 was the last day to withdraw a name. If none of the three wins more than 50 percent the vote, then the top two go to a runoff in the November general election.
Both Danforth and Cable offered statements later Monday night.
“This rhetoric doesn’t surprise me although it does sadden me,” Danforth said in a statement. “Thankfully, I have loyal supporters who know the truth. We will continue to focus on running a positive campaign because Lincoln County deserves to be built up, not torn down. Please don’t mistake my lack of anger or fight to mean agreement or complacency. Stay tuned — the truth will be revealed.”
Cable said he appreciated getting Park’s endorsement.
“I am honored to have the support and endorsement of Deputy District Attorney Park,” Cable said in a statement. “He spent his career as a police officer before becoming a prosecutor. He clearly understands the importance of this election to the people of Lincoln County. He recognizes the positive changes we have tried to make to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the office.”