By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Chris Mann, Democratic candidate for Kansas Attorney General, believes he is uniquely qualified to be the state's top law enforcement officer.
"I actually started my career in public service back in 1998," Mann said. "I became a police officer in Lawrence, Kansas. The more I did that job, the more I knew it was a calling for me. It was something where I could help people and I could do good for my community. All that came crashing down on a cold night in January of 2002."
Mann was hit by a drunk driver and could no longer serve on the police force, so after recovering physically, he turned that pain into purpose and became a lawyer.
"I became a prosecutor," Mann said. "I started prosecuting in Wyandotte County, where I did everything from traffic tickets to murders. Then, I took my prosecution to the state, where I did white collar crime across the state of Kansas."
During his time as a prosecutor, Mann was appointed to the Mothers Against Drunk Driving National Board of Directors in 2014 and served as the Board Chair until 2020. He did leave the public sector in 2016 to become an attorney for those who could not afford one. Then, in 2019, Mann expanded his law practice and returned his focus primarily to representing victims of drunk driving and their families in lawsuits against drunk drivers. Now, he feels its time to serve the public again.
"I've always felt that tug to come back to public service," Mann said. "When this position was an open seat and open for election this year, I realized that it was time to come back to public service. It was time to bring my experience to this office to help keep Kansans safe."
Mann is married to Ashley Mann, a Cardiothoracic Surgeon in Topeka. They live in Lawrence with their two kids, Skylar (6) and William (2). Learn more about Chris Mann for Attorney General at ChrisMannforKansas.com.