Thomas Donovan for Chittenden County State's Attorney

Background:

I grew up in Burlington, Vt. one of six kids, with me being the only boy with five sisters. I attended public schools, worked after school at the local store and played sports in high school. I attended college and then went on to law school. I served as an Assistant District Attorney in Philadelphia, but always wanted to return home to serve my community. As a result, I served as a Deputy State's Attorney in Chittenden County. I am currently in private practice in Burlington, Vt.

Goals:

I am running for State's Attorney to make a difference in the lives of victims, criminals and in my community. I was born and raised in Chittenden County and I love this community. I live and work here and I am committed to making Chittenden County the safest community possible. I am an experienced lawyer who can use my skills to make this a safe place for people to live and work and for families to thrive. I believe in holding offenders fully accountable and standing up for those victims who cannot do so themselves. I want to work to ensure that the "criminal justice" system actually delivers "Justice" and that it does not become just another checkpoint in a cycle of violence. I believe achieving this requires a focus on the underlying causes of criminal behavior and a commitment to address these problems with all the tools and options available to a modern, progressive society. While punishment is an important aspect in the delivery of justice, particularly from the point of view of victims, through the State's Attorney's office, I hope to foster an environment that will engage the community, the courts and Corrections in a concentrated effort to provide true rehabilitation. I believe one key to reducing crime in Chittenden County is creating and implementing innovative programs to protect children from becoming crime victims. As demonstrated by my work with the Dismas House, I am committed to work in partnership with the community to provide early intervention and preventive education programs for juveniles and others in order to reduce criminal activity. In particular, I want to enhance the ability of the State's Attorney's Office to provide preventative and early intervention programs for juveniles, consistent with the safety and well being of the public. In addition, I want to have the State's Attorney's office recognize its core purpose - to serve victims and the community. By focusing on the original purpose of the State's Attorney's Office, rather than solely on the practical mechanisms used in executing that mission, I hope to be able to make the criminal justice system one that not only delivers justice to the community and the wrongdoer by punishing and rehabilitating those who break the law, but also provides satisfaction and closure to the victims of crimes. By keeping in mind the actual purpose of criminal prosecution - the protection,compensation and safety of the community and victims - I believe the State's Attorney's Office can be a leader in driving our community towards the highest ends of a civilized, cooperative and compassionate society.
Thomas J. Donovan, Esq.

Issues:

1. Safer communities, with more drug and mental health treatment for those who commit crimes as a result of their illness. 2. Better victim services, working with social service groups in order to get the people who are harmed the help and support they deserve. 3. Holding offenders accountable, with accountability comes personal responisbility so that we give those the most vulnerable amoung us, the opportunity to succeed.

Grassroots Support:

All of it! My campaign is entirely grassroots; going door to door, meeting people at house parties, and standing on the side of the road waving my sign.

DFA Values:

I am socially progressive in that I will actively work with community groups and social services groups to identify the cause(s) of criminal behavior in an effort to reduce crime and give those who are likely to be victims of crime or to commit a crime, hope for a better life.
I am fiscally responsible in that I understand that budgets across the nation need to tightened and we need to think of new ways of addressing and solving problems. Instead of throwing money at a problem, I will work with the community as a whole to help solve, or attempt to solve, the problems of crime, drug addiction and mental illness.