DONIPHAN — Voters in the November general election will have the opportunity to choose a willing candidate for prosecutor, after all.
Democrat Matt Michel’s name won’t appear on the ballot, but he has submitted his name as a write-in candidate.
Voters will need to locate the corresponding box on the ballot and write Michel’s name on the blank line, making sure to also blacken the oval next to it.
Michel, who is currently Butler County’s assistant prosecutor, has not previously held an elected position. However, he served as assistant prosecutor in Ripley County from September 2017 until October 2019.
He stated, “I have significant jury trial experience and have obtained guilty verdicts on cases ranging from misdemeanor DWIs to Class A felony domestic assaults and child sex crimes.”
Michel says, “Experience is invaluable in any position, but especially in the prosecutor’s office. Making sure that you have someone experienced and capable of trying a case and assisting law enforcement in investigations is crucial.
“You have to be able to predict what issues may arise in a case, in order to be successful. That ability comes with experience,” he adds.
Michel further stated, “Since becoming a prosecutor, I have taken advantage of all training opportunities presented to me, including Child First, where I learned techniques in interviewing child victims.
Michel stated he also attended the National Computer Forensic Institute’s prosecutor training put on by the US Secret Service.
Although he currently serves Butler County, Michel resides in Fairdealing and he has maintained local ties.
He is currently president of the Doniphan Neighborhood Assistance Program (DNAP) and volunteers his time at other local events, such as FreedomFest and Current River Heritage Days.
Michel said as a prosecutor he intends to be tough on drug crimes.
“One of the most important issues facing Ripley County and the surrounding area is the sale, purchase and use of controlled substances such as methamphetamine, heroin and fentanyl. A majority of all crime in Ripley County ultimately comes back to drugs,” he says.
“I intend to continue to work closely with law enforcement to try and put a dent in the distribution of drugs in our community.”
Michel feels the key to gaining public trust and getting the community more involved in county concerns is for elected officials to maintain an open-door policy.
“Being available to personally meet with members of the public is the best way for elected officials to learn their concerns and also keep them informed,” he says.