May will draw on leadership lessons as new DA

When Dan May takes over Tuesday as 4th Judicial District attorney, he brings a leadership style honed while working for five top prosecutors.

He'll need every bit of that experience as he takes over the busiest district attorney's office in the state that's also one of the leanest fiscally. The district includes El Paso and Teller counties.

"I feel in a certain way, I'm more experienced coming on to the job than any district attorney has ever been," May said. "Working under these attorneys, and working closely with them, I feel better prepared."

For the past two years, the 4th Judicial District has had the most criminal filings of any district in the state, according to State Court Administrator records.

May's former bosses include a District Court judge, Barney Iuppa, the state attorney general, John Suthers, former 4th Judicial District Attorney Jeannie Smith and 18th Judicial District Attorney Carol Chambers. Former 4th Judicial District Attorney Bob Russel, who served from 1965 to 1985, hired May.

May, 53, beat 4th Judicial District Attorney John Newsome in the Republican primary in August. May ran unopposed in the November election.

He ran on the campaign theme "Leadership by Example" - hoping to set himself apart from some public-relations missteps by Newsome in 2008. Newsome didn't even have a primary opponent until after television station KOAA aired a hidden-camera investigation showing Newsome in local bars drinking about 130 ounces of beer in about five hours, then driving a county-owned vehicle.

Newsome also didn't try any cases as DA.

"You will see me in the courtroom," May said. "New attorneys will see me working - that's a way to mentor them."

May has plans for curbing the high turnover rate in the office, improving morale and delivering justice in tough economic times.

He's already bringing more experience back to the office from day one. He's hired longtime former Deputy District Attorney Dan Zook to be his assistant and rehired another longtime deputy, Kim Kitchens. Both have more than 40 years experience as prosecutors between them.

"I'm thrilled to get them back," said May, who will earn $120,000 per year to oversee the office of about 70 attorneys.

May said he will lobby county commissioners to raise the starting salary for incoming prosecutors, improve training programs to lure more attorneys here and explore programs like law school loan forgiveness. He also plans to privatize some office programs, including the juvenile diversion program which allows first-time offenders to complete a probation-like program and not have convictions entered on their records. That program will be funded with a mix of user fees and corporate sponsorships.

He's trying to help with El Paso County's budget crisis on a personal level, too. May is giving back the county-owned sport utility vehicle that was assigned to the district attorney and he's putting a $27,000 pay raise from the state into the office's general budget. He estimates that will save more than $200,000 over his four-year term.

One thing he said he hopes to never do is plea-bargain a case purely for financial reasons.

"Certain cases absolutely need to go to trial," he said.

Suthers said May brings a steady presence to the office.

"Dan does not have a flamboyant personality," Suthers said. "He's not going to have emotional ups and downs that could impair his ability to lead."

May's having "worked his way through the ranks" gives him a better understanding of the office, Suthers said.

Chambers, whom May has worked for as a chief deputy district attorney since 2005, said "we're sorry to see him go. He's an excellent administrator."

May is also a seasoned trial attorney, she said, noting the death penalty cases he tried in the 18th, which includes Douglas, Lincoln, Elbert and Arapahoe counties. He served as the chief deputy over county court.

"He's calm and patient and skilled at working with new attorneys ... a good mentor," Chambers said.  

Though he's thoroughly committed to justice, Chambers said May is also "fair, compassionate and thoughtful" when it comes to prosecuting cases.

"He doesn't back down from a fight if it's warranted," she said.

Contact the writer: dennis.huspeni@gazette.com or 636-0110.