JENNINGS, La. (AP) — A southwest Louisiana parish has elected its first female district attorney.
Lauren Heinen captured 3,672 of the votes cast, or 58%, in Saturday's three-person election in Jeff Davis Parish, news outlets reported. Interim District Attorney Elliott Cassidy received 2,203 votes, or 35%, complete but unofficial results from the Secretary of State's Office showed. Daniel Sparks, a public defender, drew 500 votes, or 8%.
The election was held to fill the seat vacated by the death of 31st Judicial Court District Attorney Kevin Millican, who died last July six months after taking office.
Heinen, who currently serves as counsel for the Jeff Davis Parish Sheriff’s Office, campaigned on her experience as an attorney, business owner and special counsel. She's scheduled to be sworn in on April 5 for her term, which ends in 2026.
“I just look forward to meeting everybody, talking to everybody, and really getting everybody on the same page and understanding that we’re excited,” Heinen told KPLC-TV. “We’re excited, the parish is excited and I’m looking forward to the next chapter.”
Heinen, 32, said communication within the office and with crime victims is important. She also said she expects to be involved as both a prosecutor in the courtroom as well as administration of the office.
“I’m both an advocate and a businesswoman and I think that it’s okay to wear those hats,” she said. “It’s okay to not limit yourself. And I think that’s important. You have to know what’s going on in your office.”
One change she plans to make is bringing in more technology to improve efficiency in handling the caseload.
“In terms of case management, I think that’s where we really need to implement some cost-saving and time-saving technology in terms of case management software,” she said.
She hopes the new technology will help speed access to information and the trial process.
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