Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Dan Hampton is seeking the Kosciusko County prosecutor seat.
He said he is running for the seat to oversee and fine tune the office and maintain the utmost professionalism in the investigation and prosecution of criminal offenses.
He also plans to ensure accessibility of crime victims to information and services while emphasizing sensitivity to victim's rights and needs.Fostering strong relationships and providing the highest standard of legal assistance to all law enforcement agencies and requiring and ensuring good stewardship of taxpayer's money are things he also said are important to him.
Current prosecuting attorney Steve Hearn withdrew from the race Monday with the Kosciusko County Clerk's Office to allow new ideas into the office. Hearn has served in the seat for two terms.
The primary is May 4, and the general election is Nov. 2.
Hampton filed for the seat in Indianapolis Feb. 17.
Hampton, 47, (R-Warsaw), previously ran unsuccessfully for prosecuting attorney in the 1994 Republican primary election against Warsaw Attorney David Kolbe. Kolbe was elected in the general election.
Hampton currently serves as 5th District Warsaw city councilman, and is a Republican precinct committeeman. He also has served for eight years as chief deputy prosecuting attorney.
Hampton's term as city councilman expires Dec. 31, 2011. Hampton said if he is elected to serve as prosecuting attorney, he would not be allowed to continue serving on the city council and would have to resign from the council by Dec. 31 this year.
Hampton said the dual lucrative offices law indicates a public official cannot hold two elected paid positions.
During an interview at the prosecutor's office Tuesday afternoon, Hampton said he has worked well with Hearn in making changes in the prosecutor's office.
"The criminal justice system is dynamic in nature, continually responding to the influences of the legislature, courts, police and the needs of society," Hampton said.
As a result, Hampton said the prosecuting attorney office must be in position to adapt to the changes as well as being proactive in anticipating the needs of law enforcement agencies and the communities it serves.
Beginning under the supervision of Prosecuting Attorney Mike Miner, Hampton gained experience in prosecuting misdemeanors and infractions.
From 1988 to 1991, Hampton served as an associate lawyer with the Law Office of Valentine and Miner, Warsaw, and as a part-time deputy prosecuting attorney under Miner.
In 1991, Hampton became a full-time chief deputy prosecuting attorney under Randy Girod, who was prosecuting attorney at that time. He continued to serve until 1994.
After Hampton ran for the prosecuting attorney seat against Kolbe in 1994 and was defeated, Hampton left the Kosciusko County prosecuting attorney's office.
He became section chief for the juvenile division in the Fort Wayne prosecutor's office and section chief of the A, B, C felony division from 1995 to 1998.
In 1998 he returned to Warsaw and opened the Hampton Law Office and was the Republican candidate for Kosciusko County prosecuting attorney.
From 1999 to 2002 he formed Hampton & Voelz Law Office, Warsaw, and served as a senior partner with the law firm.
From 2003 to the present, he has served in the prosecutor's office as chief deputy prosecuting attorney under Hearn.
As deputy prosecuting attorney, Hampton's primary responsibilities are for cases related to homicides, felonies and juvenile matters. As a prosecutor, he is legal counsel for law enforcement agencies on issues of criminal law and procedure, determines the initiation of criminal charges and prosecutes to the full extent of the law.
In addition to his prosecutorial experience, he has earned educational credentials. After graduating with honors from Warsaw Community High School, he attend Ball State University where he achieved a bachelor's degree.
While at Ball State he was involved in many university organizations including being president of the Student Senate, vice president of the Student Association, and co-chairman of the University Disciplinary Review Board.
Immediately thereafter he went to Thomas M. Cooley Law School, a private law school, in Lansing, Mich.
While there, he was honored as a recipient of the American Jurisprudence Award and his Juris Doctorate degree.
After passing the Indiana bar exam, he was admitted to the practice of law in the Indiana State Bar and the Northern/Southern District of the Indiana federal court system.
Hampton is married to Katy and they have two children, Bonnie and John.
Hampton previously taught criminal justice courses with Indiana University-South Bend and IPFW, receiving the Teaching Excellence Award on two separate occasions.
